Disney’s biggest “what if” moment involved a franchise worth billions, and it wasn’t the one you’d expect. Bob Iger revealed the iconic film series that slipped through the studio’s fingers during its historic acquisition spree.
Disney failed to acquire one of Hollywood’s biggest franchises
Former Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed in an exit interview with the Financial Times that the studio tried to acquire the James Bond franchise.
Iger stepped down from his second stint as Disney CEO in March 2026. During his exit interview, he disclosed that Bond appeared on a list of acquisition targets alongside Marvel and Star Wars. “We put together a list of acquisition targets,” Iger said. “Marvel was one, Star Wars was another, James Bond was one.”
Additionally, Iger described the acquisitions era as transformative for Disney’s creative ambitions. The studio’s $7.4 billion purchase of Pixar in May 2006 launched a major spending spree. “It was like the clouds lifted and the sun started to shine again,” he said. Iger further added, “We had a list and I figured let’s just tick them off and buy them all.”
However, James Bond ultimately became the franchise that got away from Disney. Amazon now holds ownership of the iconic spy series through its acquisition of MGM. In February 2025, Amazon MGM Studios took full creative control of the Bond franchise. As a result, producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli of Eon Productions stepped back from the series after decades of stewardship.
Meanwhile, the franchise has since moved forward rapidly under Amazon’s leadership. Amy Pascal and David Heyman now oversee future installments as producers.
Furthermore, Denis Villeneuve has been confirmed to direct the 26th James Bond film. Steven Knight will write the screenplay for the upcoming installment. Auditions for the next actor to play 007 also began in May 2026, with Nina Gold serving as casting director.
