Bob Iger says Disney considered buying James Bond

Former Disney CEO Bob Iger says the company was eyeing the James Bond franchise before Amazon bought it. He recalled that after the Pixar purchase 'it was like the clouds lifted and the sun started to shine again,' and said Disney put together a list of acquisition targets — 'Marvel was one, Star Wars was another, James Bond was one' — and he 'figured let’s just tick them off and buy them all.' Rumors of Disney acquiring James Bond appeared in 2017, and Iger hinted at plans to acquire the franchise in 2019.

A surprise announcement came in 2025 when longtime producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli effectively sold creative control to Amazon for $20 million (though it was rumored to be a much higher amount). Around the same time, it was claimed Broccoli was unhappy with Amazon's plans, which involved turning Bond into a cinematic universe with a Moneypenny prequel spin-off.

Denis Villeneuve is set to direct the untitled new Bond movie, with Steven Knight writing the script and casting underway.

bob iger, disney, james bond, amazon, barbara broccoli, michael wilson, denis villeneuve, steven knight, moneypenny, cinematic universe