Ex-Disney chief Bob Chapek points at Bob Iger over his sacking

Former Disney boss Bob Chapek says his old mentor Bob Iger is the reason he lost the top job at Disney.

Chapek makes the claim in a new memoir, Behind the Castle Walls, due out on 29 September. He discussed the book, his record and his sacking in an interview with Variety published on 28 September.

Chapek took over as Disney chief executive in February 2020 as Iger's hand-picked successor. He was dismissed in November 2022. Iger then returned to the role.

The 272-page book names Iger 121 times. In it, Chapek calls Iger the “real reason” for his dismissal and writes that Iger “seemed to initiate a relentless three-year campaign to push me out.” Chapek told Variety he believes Iger undercut him because Iger wanted the job back.

He admits he made mistakes in charge. None of them, in his view, justified the board’s decision to sack him. He also said he did not take legal action against Disney after his exit.

Chapek said he feels let down by Iger and by Disney. He said the company has tried to erase him since he left.

He has had no contact with Iger since leaving Disney. His last exchange, he said, was a handshake and a very brief chat at the Sun Valley conference in July 2022.

Chapek also said he raised concerns about Iger with Disney’s board while he was chief executive. He was told: “He’ll be gone in two years. It’s OK. That’s Bob being Bob,” according to CNBC.

Representatives for Iger and Disney declined to comment for the Variety interview story.

The row looks back to a turbulent handover. Iger first led Disney from 2005 to 2020, then returned in 2022, according to Reuters. He later agreed to stay through 2026. Disney had said it would name his replacement in early 2026, and Iger has since told associates he plans to step back from day-to-day management before his contract ends on 31 December.

For viewers, this matters because the person in that office decides what gets made and what gets finished. A change at the top can mean new priorities for films, series and theme parks. That succession is still the next big decision to watch.