Disney’s missed deals: Apple merger talks collapse and James Bond franchise slip

Former Disney CEO Bob Iger disclosed that Apple and Disney held high‑level discussions about a potential merger, but the talks ended because Apple showed little interest. Iger said the negotiations continued after Steve Jobs’s death and into Tim Cook’s tenure, but the proposal never advanced.

Iger also revealed that Disney aimed to acquire the James Bond film franchise during its acquisition spree that added Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars. The studio failed to secure the iconic spy series, which was later taken over by Amazon after its purchase of MGM. The missed Bond deal highlights a rare franchise that escaped Disney’s expansion plans.