10 Movie Characters Killed Early In The Sequel
6. Count Dooku - Star Wars: The Revenge Of The Sith
Count Dooku, once a proud Jedi master, falls to the dark side of the force, falling under the influence of Darth Sidious in Attack Of The Clones. The Sith lord does battle with both Anakin and Obi Wan before escaping with his life at the end of the movie.
When he is confronted by the two Jedi again at the beginning of Revenge Of The Sith, it is one of the most pivotal moments of any of the prequels. This scene shows Anakin give in to the hate and anger raging within him, decapitating Dooku while the man fell on his knees, unarmed.
This is exactly what started Anakin's descent into the dark side, and is where his relationship with Palpatine evolves into Master and Apprentice. Sacrificing Christopher Lee's Dooku for this moment is exactly what was needed, as the character was worth far more to the story dead than alive, as a symbol of Anakin's transition to Vader.