M dies in the James Bond film “Skyfall” (2012), when Judi Dench’s version of the character succumbs to gunshot wounds at Skyfall Lodge in Scotland.

Quick answer

  • The version of M who dies on-screen is Judi Dench’s M.
  • Her death happens at the end of “Skyfall” , during the showdown with Silva at Bond’s childhood home, Skyfall Lodge.
  • After “Skyfall,” the role of M is taken over by Ralph Fiennes as Gareth Mallory in later films like “Spectre” and “No Time to Die.”

A bit more context

In “Skyfall,” M is targeted by the villain Silva, a former MI6 agent seeking revenge, which drives the entire plot and leads Bond to take her to Skyfall in an effort to protect her and draw Silva into a trap. Despite Bond defeating Silva, M dies from injuries sustained in the attack, giving the film a more emotional, elegiac tone than most earlier Bond entries.

Her death also serves as a transition point for the franchise: “Skyfall” effectively closes the long-running chapter of Dench’s iconic M (who had played the role since “GoldenEye”) and resets MI6’s leadership back to a more classic setup with a new M, Moneypenny, and Q in place for subsequent films.

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