Making Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

1982

“

At the end of the universe, lies the beginning of vengeance

The Enterprise is hit by USS Reliant phaser fire

Production

Go behind the scenes on the 1982 Sci-Fi movie starring William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan

George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, Ricardo Montalban, Bibi Besch, Merritt Butrick, Paul Winfield, Kirstie Alley, Ike Eisenmann (II), John Vargas, John Winston, Paul Kent Update Cast

We believe the following info is all legit. If it's bogus or you have additional info, please update us.

Thanks to Jonathan Willis

Update

George Lucas employed a bunch of genius animated graphics guys in his Lucas Arts Computer Division. Two of these guys (Alvy Ray Smith and Ed Catmull) had come from NY where they were working with some eccentric millionaire on computer animation (circa 1970s). Alvy had actually stumbled across the beginnings of this technology at the famous Xerox PARC when in California. Lucas wanted to find a better way to do things like Light Sabers which for Star Wars had to actually be drawn onto the film frame by frame. He started the computer division which did eventually pioneer incredible methods and new technology to aid in this process. But when Lucas got divorced he needed to sell some of his company so he could give his ex-wife $30,000,000. Steve Jobs eventually bought the computer division from Lucas, called it Pixar and sunk $70,000,000 of his own money into the venture over the next 10 years until Toy Story came out. However, just before Lucas sold the division to Jobs, they were hired by the makers of "Wrath of Khan" to develop that last sequence (Genesis). Lucas was indeed very impressed with what they did, but still had to sell.This all comes from the book "The Second Coming of Steve Jobs." I recommend it because it details so much about the history of art and animation in the movies.

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Update

Due to budget limitations, sets and props were re-used wherever possible. Space Station Regula 1 was the space station from Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), turned upside-down and the sets of Reliant were actually the Enterprise with different lighting, camera angles, and different seat covers.

Thanks to Patrick Rieger

Update

When Industrial Light & Magic started to use the special effects miniatures from Star Trek-The Motion Picture they ran into a problem: the light from their blue screen technique reflected off the surfaces of the models, so when combined with star fields and such, the models appeared to be transparent. The solution was to dull the entire surface of the models so the blue light would not be reflected.

Thanks to Robert Baum

Update

A scene was set to be filmed where there would be mention of Sulu taking command of the vessel U.S.S. Excelsior following the training mission. According to George Takei, Shatner had fouled up his lines intentionally prompting the scene to be scrapped.

Thanks to Robert Baum

Update

When shooting commenced on the film there was no completed script, only fragments. Despite this director, Nicholas Meyer, managed to make what many regard as the best film of the series.

Thanks to Aaron Taylor

Update

Although many think it was prosthetic, Kahn's chest was real. Montalban was very fit, almost like the Schwarzenegger of his day.

Thanks to Martin Hatfield

Update

In line with the earlier budget comments, the torpedo room, where Kirk and company board the Enterprise and where they send Spock's body off, is actually the bridge of the Klingon ship from Star Trek:The Motion Picture. The "conn" from the Klingon ship is seen as the transporter controls on the Regula One station set.

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Update

When Spock and Savik speak to each other in Vulcan, the actors actually spoke in English, and then sound people created the Vulcan words to match the movements of the actors' mouths.

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Next Section: Deleted Scenes

Deleted Scenes

There are often scenes cut from the final version of a movie. Sometimes these will have been seen by preview audiences, or be included in Blu-ray or DVD extras etc.

The following missing scenes from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan are believed legit. If you disagree or have additional info, please update us.

Thanks to Neville Ross

Update

Khan and his late wife Marla McGivers (played in the original episode by Madlyn Rhue) had a child while exiled on Ceti Alpha V. This boy survives the battle in the nebula, but dies when the Genesis Wave finally detonates in the transporter room of the Reliant, where he is. The scene in question is on the director's edition DVD.

Scotty explains that Peter Preston (Ike Eisenmann), the young engineering cadet who dies during Khan's first attack, was his nephew. This was restored in the director's edition DVD.

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Next Section: Alternate Versions

Alternate Versions

Sometimes, there will be several versions of a movie floating about on cable, tv or video etc. Other times, a Director may release a special cut of the movie on Blu-ray or DVD.

Aw, man.. We don't know of any alternate versions of "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan". If you know better, please add one for others to enjoy. It's quick & easy

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1982 Paramount
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