Disney's Missed Opportunities: Bond, Twitter, and Apple Talks

WHO:

Variety - Bob Iger, former CEO of Disney

WHAT:

Variety - Disney attempted to acquire the James Bond franchise during a spending spree that included the acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars.

Variety - Disney walked away from owning Twitter just hours before the deal was finalized.

Variety - Disney held talks regarding a merger with Apple.

WHERE:

Variety - The discussions regarding the acquisitions and mergers took place within the context of Disney's corporate strategy.

WHEN:

Variety - Bob Iger stepped down from his second stint as Disney CEO in March.

WHY:

Variety - The attempts to acquire various franchises were part of Disney's broader strategy to expand its portfolio during a significant acquisition period.

HOW:

Variety - Iger revealed these details in an exit interview with Financial Times.

(UPDATED June 24, 2026 06:26 UTC)

In an exit interview with the Financial Times, Bob Iger revealed that Disney attempted to acquire the James Bond franchise as part of a broader strategy to expand its portfolio during a significant acquisition period that included Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars. He also disclosed that Disney walked away from owning Twitter just hours before the deal was finalized and held talks regarding a merger with Apple. Iger stepped down from his second stint as Disney CEO in March, marking the end of an era for the company.