"I'm not really into The Search For Spock
The Voyage Home is easily the most accessible entry in the Star Trek film series, but there are some quite interesting facts related to it that some fans may not be knowledgeable about. With that in mind, why don't we boldly go where few Trekkies have gone before?
William Shatner Didn't Want To Do It
The size of William Shatner's ego is pretty common and according to official reports, it almost kept him from being in The Voyage Home. Shatner was resistant to return and it seemed to put the production in a chaotic state.
Eventually, Shatner was persuaded to return with the proviso that he received a healthy chunk of change. That big paycheck was also attached to a promise that he'd be allowed to direct Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. Alas, we all sadly know how that turned out.
Wrath Of Khan's Director Co-Wrote It
In spite of the fact that he knew nothing about Star Trek before directing The Wrath Of Khan, Nicholas Meyer is responsible for a lot of movie-goers fondest memories about the franchise. Having directed The Wrath Of Khan and The Undiscovered Country, it may surprise some that Meyer worked in The Voyage Home.
Though he didn't direct the film, Meyer was brought in to re-write the script. Most of his work was in the portion where the crew is running around in the past, with Harve Bennett handling the beginning and the end.
The Whales Weren't Real
Since the whales play a pretty sizeable role in the flick, it makes sense that one of the first things the effects department did was get some footage of whales. They actually attempted to shoot footage of actual humpback whales but to no avail.
Art Director Nilo Rodis then approached robotics expert Walt Conti, who would go on to work on films like The Perfect Storm. Conti's work was so good that activists, assuming they were real, criticized the film for endangering the whales.
An Extra Got Their Car Impounded
In a scene where Uhura and Chekov ask around about where the naval base in Alameda is, the only civilian who gives them the time of day only got involved to save her car. In an interview, extra Layla Sarakalo revealed her car was impounded as she failed to move it for filming reasons.
To get enough money to get her car back, Sarakalo asked if she could play an extra. She actually improvised her line using her own rhythm and that was enough for her to get credited for her work. Hopefully, her car problems had a happy ending as well.
Shatner Didn't Insist On A Romance
Marine biologist Gillian Taylor, played by actress Catherine Hicks, is one of many women to be romanced by the infamous Captain Kirk, but she shows a greater deal of strength than the usual affair. Hicks and Shatner's banter was entertaining, which made it odd to hear rumors that the romance was forced in by Shatner himself.
However, according to co-writer Nicholas Meyer, these rumors are false and that the character was always meant to be there. Director/ Spock actor Leonard Nimoy apparently chose Hicks after noticing her chemistry with Shatner.
Eddie Murphy Was Almost In It
Before Gillian Taylor was created, comedian Eddie Murphy was approached to play the role of Kirk's foil in The Voyage Home. At the time, not only was Eddie Murphy a huge name, but he was also a huge Star Trek fan to boot.
In the end, however, Murphy was dissatisfied with the script and dropped out to make The Golden Child. Kirk and Taylor's romantic chemistry in the final film is certainly appealing, but what if instead of that, Kirk was trying to put up with the future Shrek star?
Shatner And Nimoy's Improvisation
Though there were times that William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy disliked each other, that disdain certainly wasn't apparent on the screen. One of the funniest scenes in the movie came when Gillian Taylor asks the two if they like Italian food and Spock assumes he doesn't, which Kirk attempts to correct to get what they want.
According to reports, the scene was pretty much completely improvised by the two men. You can't say it didn't work, as the scene is really funny, as well as charming, and a lot of that is thanks to the two men's chemistry.
Amiga Weren't Trekkies
During a scene where Scotty and Doctor McCoy approach a glass company with the specs needed to make durable glass that is only an inch thick, the man in charge of the plant allows Scotty to use his computer to punch out the formula. That computer is an Apple Macintosh Plus.
Originally, the crew wanted to use a Commodore Amiga, which was another famous computer at the time. However, Commodore apparently wanted nothing to do with the movie, so they refused to send the production an Amiga.
Russia's First Trek Film
The Voyage Home is a film that is critical of whaling, which makes sense, as its a horrible action. That message appealed to the then Soviet Union, as The Voyage Home was the first Star Trek film to be screened there.
Harve Bennett, who was a producer and co-writer on the film, attended a screening in The Soviet Union organized by The WWF (World Wildlife Foundation, not World Wrestling Federation.) Bennett stated that he was amazed that Russians loved the film as much as Americans.
It Has An MCU Connection
The scene where Spock uses The Vulcan Nerve Pinch on a punk blaring obnoxious music, played by associate producer Kirk Thatcher, is one of the most famous scenes from the film. That said, the scene may actually place Star Trek in The MCU.
Thatcher also cameoed as a similar character in Spider-Man: Homecoming, complete with a boombox on his shoulder. While this may be nothing more than an homage, it would be interesting if it was the same character, as that would mean that Kirk and crew's adventures are in The Marvel Cinematic Universe.
