Bob Iger’s tenure as CEO of Disney saw the company through significant transformations, but also a series of high-profile misses. According to Iger, Disney came close to acquiring Twitter from its co-founder Jack Dorsey, despite ultimately walking away due to concerns over distraction.

The social media giant would have been transformed into a global distribution platform for Disney content, a strategy that could have reshaped the entertainment landscape. However, with Elon Musk’s subsequent purchase of Twitter and renaming it X, this opportunity was lost.

Disney also toyed with the idea of merging with Apple, a company Iger describes as pivotal in his career, having previously sat on its board from 2011 to 2019. Despite initial conversations, these talks failed to materialise, leaving Disney without a tech giant partner that could have transformed its digital strategy.

Among the franchises that got away were the James Bond films. Iger mentioned Marvel and Star Wars as successes, but his attempt to acquire the iconic 007 franchise was unsuccessful. Amazon ultimately secured full control of the 007 rights when it acquired MGM in 2022 and later invested heavily in the brand.

In stepping down on March 18th, Iger leaves behind a legacy of bold moves and missed opportunities, reflecting the complex landscape of media and entertainment in the digital age.