10 Franchises That Killed Off The Wrong Person

1. M - Skyfall

Why She Shouldn't Have Died:

Judi Dench is what saved the James Bond franchise. Pierce Brosnan's casting as 007 in the mid-nineties, and then Daniel Craig coming on board in the noughties, are each credited for making the superspy relevant for a new generation less impressed by Roger Moore's puns, Ian Fleming's retrograde gender politics and the unchallenged cockiness and privilege of the hero overall.

But the real genius move was bringing in Judi Dench as M, the head of MI6 and Bond's immediate superior. In both Craig and Bronsan's films she was a perfect foil, and having an actor of her calibre on board really elevated the franchise. Then she died.

Who Should've Died Instead:

Skyfall is a celebration of the Bond franchise, but it also seemed desperate to return to how things used to be. It was a few steps forward and a giant leap back, reinstating the MI6 seen in the early films - Moneypenny behind a desk, and a male M in the form of Ralph Fiennes.

If somebody had to die, and if contracts permitted it, wouldn't it have been interesting to do one more break in convention? Like, say, killing off Bond? Craig could've come full circle, the legend would truly have been humanised (as his first two turns as 007 attempted to do), and then that fan theory about different agents taking the Bond name - hence the different faces - would finally be canon.

Which other movie franchises messed up and killed the wrong character? Share your picks down in the comments.