- Primary Subject: Bob Iger's missed Disney acquisitions (specifically the James Bond franchise)
- Key Update: Former Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed that Disney almost purchased the James Bond franchise.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: June 24, 2026
- Quick Answer: Former CEO Bob Iger revealed that Disney almost acquired the James Bond franchise during his tenure, alongside other missed deals for Twitter and Apple.
Former Disney CEO Bob Iger recently revealed that they almost bought the James Bond franchise, but the plan did not end up happening.
Last year, Amazon MGM Studios took over the creative control of the famed spy franchise from Eon Productions. They are now developing the next movie with Denis Villeneuve attached to direct. While fans are waiting for news on the future of the franchise, we are now learning that the ownership of the property almost went elsewhere.
Did Disney Almost Buy the James Bond Franchise?
In an exit interview with Financial Times (via Variety), the now-former Disney CEO, Bob Iger, revealed that the company almost bought the James Bond franchise during his tenure.
It was a bucket list acquisition among their plans, alongside Marvel, Pixar, and Lucasfilm (as we all know, all three were successfully bought).
"It was like the clouds lifted and the sun started to shine again. We put together a list of acquisition targets. Marvel was one, Star Wars was another, James Bond was one. We had a list and I figured let’s just tick them off and buy them all," Iger said.
However, Iger did not share the details of why their plan to buy the James Bond franchise did not end up happening.
Aside from the spy franchise, Iger admitted that they also almost bought Twitter and almost closed the deal "at a very attractive price." However, he got cold feet on the morning that the deal would have been pushed through.
A merger with Apple was also in discussions during his tenure, but the plan never went far enough. "We talked about it internally, and we had some conversations with Apple about it, but it never went anywhere," Iger explained.
This news has made some fans wonder about what the James Bond franchise would have looked like under Disney, but that will remain as a "what if" question.
What to Expect in the Next James Bond Movie
So far, the casting and plot details regarding the next James Bond movie are still under wraps. The casting process for who will be the next 007 is still ongoing, and it is unknown when the final decision will be made.
Amy Pascal and David Heyman serve as producers of the project, while Denis Villeneuve has been tapped to direct the installment and also serve as an executive producer. Steven Knight is currently working on the screenplay.
Since Villeneuve is still busy with the post-production on Dune: Part Three, it might take a while before fans hear more news and updates. For now, stay tuned for the development in the coming months.
Keep it locked on Epicstream, your go-to site for film, TV, and celebrity coverage!