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Bob Iger Says Disney Discussed a Possible Apple Deal, but Talks “Didn’t Show That Much Interest”
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Culture/The Apex Times/Jun 23, 1:05 PM EDT

Bob Iger Says Disney Discussed a Possible Apple Deal, but Talks “Didn’t Show That Much Interest”

In an exit interview published June 23, former Disney CEO Bob Iger described discussions with Apple about a potential deal and recounted other deal efforts, including Disney’s unsuccessful attempt to acquire Twitter and long-term ambitions around major film franchises and late-night television.

2 min readEditor-approved Apex article

Bob Iger, speaking in an exit interview reported by The Hollywood Reporter on June 23, said Disney held talks with Apple about a potential business deal. Iger did not describe the terms of any specific proposal, but he said the company “didn’t show that much interest,” characterizing the level of engagement on Apple’s side during the conversations.

The interview, conducted with Iger for the Financial Times and summarized by The Hollywood Reporter, also revisited Disney’s failed attempt to acquire Twitter. Iger discussed the broader effort to secure or strengthen media and entertainment assets, and the account placed the Twitter episode among a set of major deal moves and franchise ambitions that did not play out as planned.

Iger further addressed Disney’s efforts related to intellectual property and major audience draws, including a desire to secure the James Bond franchise. In the interview recap, The Hollywood Reporter said Iger linked that objective to Disney’s broader strategic thinking about blockbuster film properties and the kind of global recognition such a brand could bring to the company’s screen divisions.

On television programming and talent, the interview also touched on Disney’s behind-the-scenes considerations around Jimmy Kimmel, according to The Hollywood Reporter summary. Iger’s comments were framed as part of the company’s attempt to shape the late-night landscape and use established hosts and formats as anchors for audience retention across platforms.

The Hollywood Reporter also reported that Iger referenced the role of Bob Chapek in the corporate trajectory that preceded his departure. The recap did not present specific procedural findings or legal conclusions, but it placed Chapek within the timeline of Disney’s executive leadership decisions that Iger discussed in the context of strategy and business outcomes.

Taken together, the comments offer a window into how Iger describes Disney’s merger and acquisition posture and how that posture intersected with content plans and major entertainment talent decisions. No details were provided in the reporting summary about whether any Apple discussions progressed beyond early conversations, or whether Disney pursued a separate formal deal channel with Apple after the low-interest feedback Iger attributed to Apple.

For Disney observers and industry partners, the immediate practical effect of the comments is that they underscore how dealmaking can be constrained even when large companies pursue similar strategic goals, such as bundling assets, expanding distribution, and securing high-value franchises and recognizable on-air talent. The interview also highlights that Disney’s most consequential deal episode in the period discussed, the Twitter acquisition attempt, remains part of Iger’s public retrospective of corporate strategy and execution.

Why It Matters

  • The Apple talk, even as it appears to have remained limited, shows how major media companies test consolidation opportunities and how quickly deals can stall if a counterpart shows little interest.
  • By revisiting the failed Twitter acquisition effort, the remarks connect corporate strategy decisions to outcomes that affected Disney’s media operations and dealmaking approach.
  • Comments about James Bond highlight the ongoing industry value of major film franchises and the competitive pressure for studios to secure globally recognizable intellectual property.
  • The interview’s references to late-night talent show how executives evaluate broadcast and platform ecosystems, not just film and streaming content portfolios.
  • Because the comments come from a public executive retrospective, they may influence how investors, partners, and regulators interpret Disney’s past acquisition and content strategy decisions as the company transitions leadership.

Sources

Key Facts

  • Bob Iger said Disney held talks with Apple about a possible deal, but he described Apple’s interest as limited, saying it “didn’t show that much interest.”
  • Iger’s comments were reported June 23 by The Hollywood Reporter from an exit interview conducted for the Financial Times.
  • In the same interview recap, Iger discussed Disney’s ill-fated attempt to acquire Twitter.
  • Iger said Disney had a desire to secure the James Bond franchise, according to the reported interview summary.
  • The Hollywood Reporter reported Iger also discussed Jimmy Kimmel in the context of Disney’s strategic considerations.
  • Iger’s interview recap included references to Bob Chapek as part of the leadership and strategy timeline he discussed.