Spock’s Death Leak Tricked Fans

Before "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" reached theaters in 1982, news leaked that Leonard Nimoy’s Spock would die, and Paramount feared angry fans might boycott the movie. According to Star Trek historian Mark A. Altman, the leaked script carried Gene Roddenberry’s identifying code. Director Nicholas Meyer then used a clever fake-out by “killing” Spock in the opening simulator scene, making fans think the real death rumor had been a publicity trick.

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