Summary

• Killing off Judi Dench's M in Skyfall was a bold move to revitalize the 007 franchise after Quantum of Solace's poor reception.
• Dench's departure was part of a plan to give Bond a new world with a new M, introducing major changes after the problematic previous film.
• Fans found the iconic M's death controversial, as cutting Dench brought fresh dynamics and female equality to a series known for lacking it.

Dame Judi Dench's 'M' met her fate in Skyfall after an almost 20-year run, and here's why the filmmakers killed her off. From her debut in 1995's GoldenEye, through to her final appearance in 2012's Skyfall, Judi Dench embodied the role of M in a way few others had. When No Time To Die arrived in 2021, Ralph Fiennes returned to the role, but for many fans of the modern Bond films, Judi Dench remains the definitive M. When the series was rebooted with 2005's Casino Royale, Dench remained as the head of MI6 on the strength of her popularity.

Having appeared in seven Bond films (eight, if you count her brief appearance in a prerecorded video message in Spectre), Dench had quite the run under her belt when it came time for her to reprise the role of M for the last time in Skyfall. M's death was a momentous occasion for fans of 007. Not only was this the first time the character had been killed in a Bond movie, the death of the first female M felt like a bold — possibly even misguided — move to audiences who had come to love Dench's masterful portrayal of Bond's superior.

Why M Was Killed In Skyfall

Judi Dench's Death Was Part Of A Wider Plan To Reinvigorate 007

A key reason M was killed in Skyfall was because studio MGM and the producers wanted to reinvigorate the 007 movies. Skyfall was originally planned to feature a much different story and ending, but it was always envisioned as a soft reboot for a franchise that was in trouble after the poorly-received Quantum of Solace. This plan also involved bringing back some elements from previous Bond films — including the Aston Martin DB5 and the return of Q Branch's Bond gadgets. Alongside the ejector seat-equipped car, Skyfall reintroduced the character of Moneypenny, who arrived to support the new M (Ralph Fiennes).

The death of Judi Dench's M was also tied to this effort to revitalize the series. Screenwriter John Logan revealed as much in a Skyfall 'behind-the-scenes' featurette, saying the film "was always going to lead to M's death." He then went on to talk about the movie's soft reboot ambitions, saying:

"It's about Bond coming back to life in a new world, and to us there seemed no better way to create a new world than to give him a new M."

Logan's insights all but confirm Dench's departure was part of the Bond franchise's attempt to win back audience favor following Quantum of Solace, with even Dench herself saying in the same featurette: "of course she's got to go."

Was Killing Off Judi Dench's M A Good Idea?

The Death Of M Was A Controversial Move For Skyfall

Cutting Dench was a fairly gutsy move on the part of the Bond producers — especially Barbara Broccoli, who had worked with the actress since her debut in GoldenEye some 17 years prior. Having a woman oversee the cavalier Bond brought a fresh new dynamic to the franchise, which remained intriguing right up to Skyfall. Her iconic castigation of Bond in GoldenEye, where she says she views him as "a sexist, misogynist dinosaur – a relic of the Cold War" instantly established an exciting new tension between the characters that remained fresh throughout the following six films.

While it was clear major changes were required after Quantum of Solace and its numerous problems, it could be argued that Judi Dench was one of the elements that still worked

Short of a female 007, Dench's M was the best way to introduce some female equality to a series that had famously lacked just that. While it was clear major changes were required after Quantum of Solace and its numerous problems, it could be argued that Judi Dench was one of the elements that still worked. Cutting her was always going to be, if not controversial, a difficult sell for the series.

That said, many fans welcomed the return of the original Bond MI6 setup of Moneypenny and Ralph Fiennes's male M. But it seems even the studio and producers were aware of the monumental decision they had made, making sure to break the news to Dench "gently" according to the actress, who went on to say in a 2014 interview that she "laughed through [her] tears" after learning of her character's fate. Despite her sadness at being given the axe in Skyfall, the then 77-year-old even thought "MI6 would have given her the push by now".