20 Things You Didn't Know About Star Trek Generations

11. Kirk's Death Was Spoiled Before It Was Even Shot

Star Trek Generations Picard Kirk
Paramount Pictures

Though script leaks are infinitely more disastrous today where everybody has a portable camera-equipped computer in their pocket, they weren't exactly a picnic three decades ago either.

By March 1994, when Generations was just starting principal photography, a script had been leaked in fan circles and online, revealing both the film's energy ribbon conceit and, most alarmingly, the death of Kirk.

To make matters worse, Scotty actor James Doohan confirmed the script's legitimacy at a fan convention the very same month, causing his presumably panicked agent to claim that he hadn't actually seen the completed script.

In September 1994, some two months before Generations was due to release, another copy leaked online, ensuring the fandom was well aware of what was coming before it happened.

Hilariously, Paramount delayed the release of the film's musical score until three weeks after the movie hit cinemas to protect against spoilers, what with one of the climactic tracks being bluntly entitled "Kirk's Death."

Could they really have not just... named the track something else?

Hollywood evidently didn't learn its lesson, though, as five years later John Williams' score for Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace infamously included a track called "Qui-Gon's Noble End." Worse still in that case, it was available more than two weeks before the movie's release. Oof.

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Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.