> Now that Disney CEO Bob Iger has regained the keys to the Magic Kingdom — less than three years after his chosen successor, Bob Chapek, took over — insiders suspect they know how the beloved executive will find a new way to go out on top during his final two-year stint.

> “He’s going to sell the company,” one Disney insider who has worked for Iger predicted. “This is the pinnacle deal for the ultimate dealmaker.”

> Landing a deal with Apple (or some other megabuyer) would also cement Iger’s legacy. “I think he’d welcome it — he’d be the last CEO of Disney,” a former top Disney executive told TheWrap, noting that the two companies have “similar brand identities” and could benefit from a merger.

> Acquisitions are in Iger’s DNA. Under Iger’s leadership, Disney went on a nearly $100 billion shopping spree to buy animation giant Pixar in 2006, superhero juggernaut Marvel in 2009, “Star Wars”-powered Lucasfilm in 2012 and Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox in 2019. But there was one acquisition he’s publicly lamented as a transformational deal that got away — a combination with the tech powerhouse Apple...

> A deal of that size is likely to draw stiff antitrust resistance at a moment when regulators have stepped up efforts to block other recently proposed media megadeals. Paramount Global this week scrapped the $2 billion sale of its Simon & Schuster division to book publishing giant Penguin Random House after a federal judge blocked the deal, while European regulators have launched a probe of Microsoft’s $69 million billion offer to purchase gaming giant Activision Blizzard.

> Apple CEO Tim Cook, known to be a safe player with relatively few acquisitions under his leadership, might have given Wall Street a big hint in April. During a call with investors, Cook said he would not rule out acquiring a large company, and that the main drive was to secure strong intellectual property and big names.

Edit: Fixed a typo.

>Microsoft’s $69 million offer to purchase gaming giant Activision Blizzard.

That doesn't sound right

It's a typo.

CNN: Microsoft to acquire Activision Blizzard in $68.7 billion deal

He did not buy Pixar, Lucasfilm, Marvel, and 20th Century Fox... just to give it all to fucking Apple.

Please do not. If there's any streaming that still gives me confidence, it's AppleTV. And this is definitely not because of well-known IPs and generic action movies. I admire Apple's move to build above-average quality original programming and efforts to give content creators space to properly start and end their shows. All streaming movements show an increasing focus on IPs and expanded universes and less originality. Only Apple still seems to run away from this nonsense.

I’m begging the trades, media, and industry analysts to stop wailing and screaming and speculating in support for more and more acquisitions. Please y'all. I'm on my fucking knees.

LOL no chance Apple buys Disney why the hell would they?

Apple's largest acquisition in its 46 year history is Beats Electronics for $3 billion.

To go from that to a $250+ billion purchase of Disney is insane.

Not going to happen.

Whatever happens just please don’t fuck up marvel

Imagine telling someone in 1986 that there is speculation Apple Computer might buy Disney for 250 billion dollars. I would have fallen out of my Zips.

I agree with that. Seeing ''on AppleTV'' nowadays is the next best thing after HBO when it comes to new content being produced.

I have a hard time believing this could pass antitrust laws... anyone in that area of law have any opinion?

The infinity stones will be replaced with Air Tags.

Apple should buy Warner Bros and DC. They have the funds to eliminate their debts.

yeah i mean there's grumbling about breaking up major tech companies already, wouldn't something like this send the feds into investigatory overdrive? do Apple and Disney want to start their own legit country or something?

like how every year there's rumors wb wants to sell dc and disney is gonna buy it