Trivia: Contrary to longstanding rumors, Natalie Wood's death did not change the plot or threaten production of this film. At the time of her death, Wood had already completed all of her principal photography, including the ending. According to producer/director Douglas Trumbull, the truth of the matter was that Metro Goldwyn Mayer was in financial trouble and saw Wood's death as an opportunity to bail itself out of debt; so, MGM halted production of "Brainstorm" and tried to write-off the film as a loss in order to collect a sizable insurance claim from Lloyd's of London. When Lloyd's investigated the claim and deposed Douglas Trumbull, he told Lloyd's that the movie was not at all damaged or threatened by Wood's death, and that it could easily be completed. Although MGM refused to pay for the film's completion, Lloyd's of London itself gave Trumbull $5.8 million to finish production.
Trivia: Natalie Wood drowned while the film was still being made. The movie was almost canned.
Trivia: It was because of Natalie Wood's (Karen Brace) untimely demise that the plot was rehashed at extreme variance to the original script, and to maintain continuity, Wood's sister was used as a body double. Also, the bodily "energy rejuvenation" experienced after playing the looped orgasm tape was supposed to be a major plot-point, not something shuffled off to the side.
