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Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan: The Making of the Classic Film
An in-depth look at the making of Star Trek The Wrath of Khan , featuring rare and previously unseen production art and new and exclusive interviews.
Forty years ago, Star Trek The Wrath of Khan saw Kirk and the U.S.S. Enterprise crew face one of the greatest foes in Star Trek history, Khan Noonien Singh, as well as the death of Spock. Celebrate this landmark anniversary by taking a deep dive into the stories behind this iconic science fiction classic. This beautiful coffee-table book is full to the brim with rare and previously unpublished archival material, behind-the-scenes photography, production art, cut scenes, script extracts, and much more, alongside new and exclusive interviews with the creatives, including director Nicholas Meyer.
Forty years ago, Star Trek The Wrath of Khan saw Kirk and the U.S.S. Enterprise crew face one of the greatest foes in Star Trek history, Khan Noonien Singh, as well as the death of Spock. Celebrate this landmark anniversary by taking a deep dive into the stories behind this iconic science fiction classic. This beautiful coffee-table book is full to the brim with rare and previously unpublished archival material, behind-the-scenes photography, production art, cut scenes, script extracts, and much more, alongside new and exclusive interviews with the creatives, including director Nicholas Meyer.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published September 5, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 23, 2023
This is an excellent addition to any Trek library. There are wonderful short profiles on many of the film’s crew members, and there are a number of behind the scenes images I haven’t seen before.
November 23, 2023
Last night I finished reading “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan: The Making of the Classic Film” by John Tenuto and Maria Jose Tenuto (2023, Titan Books). An excellent behind the scenes book about what many consider to be the best of all of the Star Trek films (and planned to have come out in 2022 to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the film’s release in 1982).
There are many books out there already about both the making of the Star Trek films in general and about Star Trek II specifically already. This being a “coffee table” style book, it’s not as text heavy as some of the other books because of all of the wonderful pictures, but it still covers all of the basics in terms of how the film got made. Especially nice are its numerous profiles on not just the more well known figures behind the film (like writer/director Nicholas Meyer and producer Harve Bennett) but also seldom covered people who were just as important to the making of the film like production designers, costume designers, hair and make up supervisors, stunt performers, camera operators, film editors, sound and visual effects artists, etc.
They also give detailed descriptions of all of the script drafts that had been written prior to Nicholas Meyer coming aboard as director. And scenes that were shot and then not included in the final picture, or were reshot (like the initial “fight scene” between Kirk and David).
I also was very happy to see a full page sidebar about the Star Trek II movie novelization written by Vonda N. McIntyre, which was one of the very first Star Trek novels I ever read, launching me into a being a lifelong Star Trek reader (it and the Star Trek comic books from DC Comics that started just after Star Trek II’s release).
“Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan: The Making of the Classic Film” is a good standalone book for more casual fans of the film and of Star Trek in general. I think it’s even better as a compliment to the already existing books on the subject, like Nicholas Meyer’s “The View From the Bridge: Memories of Star Trek and a Life in Hollywood” (2009), Edward Gross and Mark Altman’s “The Fifty-Year Mission: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Star Trek” (2016), William Shatner’s “Star Trek Movie Memories” (1994), and Leonard Nimoy’s “I Am Spock” (1995).
(I should also point out that there was already another “The Making of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” nonfiction book released in 1982 by Pocket Books as a tie-in to the release of the film, written by Allan Asherman. I’ve had a copy of that book for many years now but have not read it yet.)
Again, I highly recommend this new book by the Tenutos. I gave it five out of five stars on GoodReads.
(Titan Books also released another book, “Star Trek: First Contact: The Making of the Classic Film” (2022) by Joe Fordham in the same size and general format. I highly recommend that book, also.)
There are many books out there already about both the making of the Star Trek films in general and about Star Trek II specifically already. This being a “coffee table” style book, it’s not as text heavy as some of the other books because of all of the wonderful pictures, but it still covers all of the basics in terms of how the film got made. Especially nice are its numerous profiles on not just the more well known figures behind the film (like writer/director Nicholas Meyer and producer Harve Bennett) but also seldom covered people who were just as important to the making of the film like production designers, costume designers, hair and make up supervisors, stunt performers, camera operators, film editors, sound and visual effects artists, etc.
They also give detailed descriptions of all of the script drafts that had been written prior to Nicholas Meyer coming aboard as director. And scenes that were shot and then not included in the final picture, or were reshot (like the initial “fight scene” between Kirk and David).
I also was very happy to see a full page sidebar about the Star Trek II movie novelization written by Vonda N. McIntyre, which was one of the very first Star Trek novels I ever read, launching me into a being a lifelong Star Trek reader (it and the Star Trek comic books from DC Comics that started just after Star Trek II’s release).
“Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan: The Making of the Classic Film” is a good standalone book for more casual fans of the film and of Star Trek in general. I think it’s even better as a compliment to the already existing books on the subject, like Nicholas Meyer’s “The View From the Bridge: Memories of Star Trek and a Life in Hollywood” (2009), Edward Gross and Mark Altman’s “The Fifty-Year Mission: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Star Trek” (2016), William Shatner’s “Star Trek Movie Memories” (1994), and Leonard Nimoy’s “I Am Spock” (1995).
(I should also point out that there was already another “The Making of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” nonfiction book released in 1982 by Pocket Books as a tie-in to the release of the film, written by Allan Asherman. I’ve had a copy of that book for many years now but have not read it yet.)
Again, I highly recommend this new book by the Tenutos. I gave it five out of five stars on GoodReads.
(Titan Books also released another book, “Star Trek: First Contact: The Making of the Classic Film” (2022) by Joe Fordham in the same size and general format. I highly recommend that book, also.)
May 21, 2024
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan- The Making of the Classic Film
I still remember where I was the first time I saw a part of 'Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan'. I'd come out of a night class at a local Irish Centre and saw the "Project Genesis" proposal viewed by Kirk on the bar television. My Dad was still talking to a friend of his. I wasn't at home and I hoped I'd set the video to record properly. Until then, I'd never seen or heard of 'Star Trek' (Many of my friends would find this hard to believe!). So what was it that made the film so memorable, so workable? For me, the obvious camaraderie between Kirk, Spock and McCoy - even though I didn't know who they were. On watching the film, the themes of revenge, sacrifice and friendship played so well I went in search of further 'Star Trek'. Which brings me here.
Is this book good? Without a doubt. The selected photographs are stunning. As a first class 'Star Trek' nerd, there are good chunks of text relating to things I haven't already known, which is a bonus. Tenuto has written a clean behind the scenes book with enough information to show why this is a special film not only in the 'Star Trek' franchise, but in the wider genres of 1980s Science Fiction and, indeed, a century or so of wider cinema.
I still remember where I was the first time I saw a part of 'Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan'. I'd come out of a night class at a local Irish Centre and saw the "Project Genesis" proposal viewed by Kirk on the bar television. My Dad was still talking to a friend of his. I wasn't at home and I hoped I'd set the video to record properly. Until then, I'd never seen or heard of 'Star Trek' (Many of my friends would find this hard to believe!). So what was it that made the film so memorable, so workable? For me, the obvious camaraderie between Kirk, Spock and McCoy - even though I didn't know who they were. On watching the film, the themes of revenge, sacrifice and friendship played so well I went in search of further 'Star Trek'. Which brings me here.
Is this book good? Without a doubt. The selected photographs are stunning. As a first class 'Star Trek' nerd, there are good chunks of text relating to things I haven't already known, which is a bonus. Tenuto has written a clean behind the scenes book with enough information to show why this is a special film not only in the 'Star Trek' franchise, but in the wider genres of 1980s Science Fiction and, indeed, a century or so of wider cinema.
September 22, 2023
"For hate's sake, I spit my last breath at thee," quoth Khan Noonien Singh, his face mashed into hamburger by repeated weapons fire from the phaser banks/photon torpedo bays of the USS Enterprise. I remember seeing The Wrath of Khan at the now defunct Madison (NJ) Theater in 1982. It was such a major improvement over Star Trek: The Motion Picture. I still cannot watch the last few minutes or so without feeling hugely moved. To many Trekkers, STII remains the all-time best Trek film by a wide margin. 40 years later, one would think few tales about the film remain untold. Not so!
I don't often review a book written by someone with whom I am acquainted. I know the sachem author and his equally sage wife from numerous Star Trek conventions. Not only have the two Doctors Tenuto forgotten more about Star Trek than I will ever know, they are gracious and lovely people who have written a masterwork about a masterpiece.
I have viewed STII: TWOK about a million times. I have also delved no further than the reminiscences of the actors in the DVD special features for detailed back stories. In this book, die hard Trekkers will learn what there is to know about every aspect of making the film, such as makeup, costuming, special effects and...whatever else goes into making a film, I guess. The Tenutos covered more behind-the-scenes stories than I knew could be had. For example, I had no idea that so many of the effects were the result of creatively imagined innovations. I did know that many of the ideas that they drummed up on the spot were extraordinarily correct decisions, resulting in a taut, brilliantly paced thrill ride.
The Tenutos tell the story of the evolution of ST II: TWOK with humor, eloquence, and lots and lots of interviews. Are there drawbacks? Well...the book ain't cheap. But to someone (such as me) who has spent thousands of dollars at Trek conventions, the book is a bargain. Another potential drawback: The book is enormous, printed on heavy, coated stock. I could not hold the book for very long. So arthritics like me will need a table to hold it on while reading, re-reading, and perusing through the easily readable text and the ample supply of still shots. The film occupies an enormous place in Trek lore, so it requires an outsized volume to give it justice. The Making of the Classic Film is a must for Trekkers who hold fast to the legends generated by the second film in the Star Trek canon. Kudos to the Tenutos on a job well done.
I don't often review a book written by someone with whom I am acquainted. I know the sachem author and his equally sage wife from numerous Star Trek conventions. Not only have the two Doctors Tenuto forgotten more about Star Trek than I will ever know, they are gracious and lovely people who have written a masterwork about a masterpiece.
I have viewed STII: TWOK about a million times. I have also delved no further than the reminiscences of the actors in the DVD special features for detailed back stories. In this book, die hard Trekkers will learn what there is to know about every aspect of making the film, such as makeup, costuming, special effects and...whatever else goes into making a film, I guess. The Tenutos covered more behind-the-scenes stories than I knew could be had. For example, I had no idea that so many of the effects were the result of creatively imagined innovations. I did know that many of the ideas that they drummed up on the spot were extraordinarily correct decisions, resulting in a taut, brilliantly paced thrill ride.
The Tenutos tell the story of the evolution of ST II: TWOK with humor, eloquence, and lots and lots of interviews. Are there drawbacks? Well...the book ain't cheap. But to someone (such as me) who has spent thousands of dollars at Trek conventions, the book is a bargain. Another potential drawback: The book is enormous, printed on heavy, coated stock. I could not hold the book for very long. So arthritics like me will need a table to hold it on while reading, re-reading, and perusing through the easily readable text and the ample supply of still shots. The film occupies an enormous place in Trek lore, so it requires an outsized volume to give it justice. The Making of the Classic Film is a must for Trekkers who hold fast to the legends generated by the second film in the Star Trek canon. Kudos to the Tenutos on a job well done.
December 10, 2023
As I get older, I have been finding more of the Titan Books covering films I grew up with. The _Aliens_ making of was really good. _Star Trek II_ is a film I’ve watched dozens and dozens of times & the book opened my eyes to a number of nuances I hadn’t realized.
As a coffee table book, the wide pages allow for a lot of detailed photos from the soundstage. The authors have sections for a number of people who made the movie magic behind the scenes. I did notice there isn’t a mention of the music for the film. The La-La Land CD set does contain extensive notes about the music and how it came to be.
I learned that the original project was slated to be a TV special. That would have been very different in tone and story. Or that the studio didn’t like the actors rehearsing so the director had everyone over to his house in order to make everyone more comfortable with their parts. To keep costs down, they reused sets from the first film, adjusting as needed. I now want to go back and check out how they did that.
Overall, a nice addition to my collection of movie books. I find it fascinating the effort it takes to make my favorite films.
As a coffee table book, the wide pages allow for a lot of detailed photos from the soundstage. The authors have sections for a number of people who made the movie magic behind the scenes. I did notice there isn’t a mention of the music for the film. The La-La Land CD set does contain extensive notes about the music and how it came to be.
I learned that the original project was slated to be a TV special. That would have been very different in tone and story. Or that the studio didn’t like the actors rehearsing so the director had everyone over to his house in order to make everyone more comfortable with their parts. To keep costs down, they reused sets from the first film, adjusting as needed. I now want to go back and check out how they did that.
Overall, a nice addition to my collection of movie books. I find it fascinating the effort it takes to make my favorite films.
January 6, 2024
If you are not familiar with the story of how STII came to be after the missteps of STI and all of the studio politics and budget issues that came with it, this is a good account of the movie and how it was made. If you ARE familiar with the making of STII from all of the dozens of accounts on the subject previously published, there will not be a whole lot new here (many of the cast and crew have passed in the 40+ years since the movie was made, meaning only previously-published interviews with them are available as sources), but there are some previously-undisclosed things that are published here for the first time. The large-size format of the book is a superb environment for the hundreds of photos, mostly behind the scenes shots, which have never been published before. An interesting read.
January 20, 2024
I came to this after reading, and loving, the JW Rinzler series of books on the original Star Wars trilogy, Alien, Aliens, and Indiana Jones. I didn't enjoy this one nearly as much but perhaps my expectations were improperly set after reading the Rinzler books. The print quality of the book is great and the photos are great. If you are a fan of Star Trek 2 then it's worth the purchase. However, it is far less detailed than the Rinzler books and the chapters often feel random and oddly chosen - as if a series of magazine articles were culled together and placed into a book. Post production and the main cast both get much shorter mentions than seems appropriate while entire chapters are dedicated to the Ceti Eels, Kahn's crew, and the starfleet cadets. Still, most of the information that is here is interesting. It just feels short and incomplete.
October 25, 2025
Learned some things, but most I already knew about
Star Trek Ii for most Star Trek fans ranks at the top for the best Trek movie. For me, it's #1. First Contact is #2.
I honestly didn't learn much from this book. Most of what was talked about, I already knew. I did find it fascinating how the models, along with the nebula after it, are made.
I made the mistake of buying this for my Kindle app, and that made the book a little hard to read.
Still though I recommend this for any Trek fan.
Star Trek Ii for most Star Trek fans ranks at the top for the best Trek movie. For me, it's #1. First Contact is #2.
I honestly didn't learn much from this book. Most of what was talked about, I already knew. I did find it fascinating how the models, along with the nebula after it, are made.
I made the mistake of buying this for my Kindle app, and that made the book a little hard to read.
Still though I recommend this for any Trek fan.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews