Screen Rant

Why did Saavik, played by Kirstie Alley in The Wrath of Khan, not return for Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country? 1 / 7

This came down to budgets constraints and concern over her story of becoming a traitor. 2 / 7

As one of the highest-paid actresses on TV at the time, Alley's price tag was too high for the $30 million movie. 3 / 7

Additionally, it was decided that her story of becoming a traitor wouldn't work... 4 / 7

So she was traded out for another Vulcan character, Valeris, played by Kim Cattrell. 5 / 7

Saavik had also previously been recast with Robin Curtis in the third and fourth films... 6 / 7

And with Alley's return to the role having fallen through, all of this explains why she wasn't in The Undiscovered Country. 7 / 7