10 Movie Scenes Changed After The Actor Died
3. Tanner Fills In For M After Bernard Lee Dies - For Your Eyes Only
Of all 25 official James Bond films, For Your Eyes Only is the only one to not feature an appearance by M, the Head of MI6.
The reason for this? Bernard Lee, who played M in the first 11 Bond films, passed away shortly after For Your Eyes Only began filming, and because producer Albert Broccoli refused to recast the character, it was decided instead that M would be sidelined and his scenes given to another character.
And so, M's dialogue was instead largely spoken by MI6 Chief of Staff Bill Tanner (James Villiers), while M was said to be away from the office on leave.
The role of M was eventually recast for the next Bond film, Octopussy, and though Villiers assumed that he would be offered the role, he was disappointed not to be asked, with the producers instead choosing an actor whose age was more consistent with Bernard Lee.
Ultimately Robert Brown assumed the role of M from Octopussy for the next four movies, before it was later taken up by Judi Dench and, most recently, Ralph Fiennes.