Bob Iger Announces 'One Last Time' Memoir to Counter Chapek's Disney Account

Key points

• Iger's new book, co-written with Dan Schwerin, is titled 'One Last Time: Managing Crisis and Building Resilience at Disney' and will be released on March 2, 2027.
• The memoir covers Iger's second stint as CEO, including the 2023 Hollywood strikes, AI disruption, and the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel.
• Iger stepped down as CEO earlier in 2026, handing control to Josh D'Amaro, and is set to leave the Disney board at the end of the year.
• The announcement comes less than a month after Chapek released 'Behind the Castle Walls,' which accused Iger of undermining his leadership.
• An unauthorized book by Wall Street Journal reporter Robbie Whelan, promising to document a 'Machiavellian power struggle,' is also scheduled for release later this year.

Background

This announcement follows the September 2026 release of Bob Chapek's memoir, 'Behind the Castle Walls,' which alleged that Iger actively sabotaged his tenure as CEO from 2020 to 2022. Chapek claimed Iger undermined him through public criticism and board influence, leading to his ouster. Disney insiders had previously dismissed Chapek's account as revisionist, and the release coincided with Iger's transition to the LA Lakers and reports of a forthcoming biography by Wall Street Journal reporter Robbie Whelan.

How outlets are covering it

The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline present the announcement as a formal corporate update, emphasizing Iger's framing of the period as a 'comeback story' focused on resilience and core values. Vulture adopts a more critical, pop-culture tone, characterizing the release as a 'Bob-on-Bob Burn Book' and suggesting Iger is responding to Chapek's accusations by asserting that Chapek left the company in a mess. All three outlets agree on the release date and the involvement of co-author Dan Schwerin, but they differ in their interpretation of the narrative conflict between the two former CEOs.

Why it matters

The release of Iger's memoir adds to a wave of publications detailing the internal power struggles at Disney, potentially influencing public perception of the company's leadership transitions and strategic direction under Josh D'Amaro. It also highlights the ongoing scrutiny of Disney's handling of cultural and labor issues, including the 2023 Hollywood strikes and the Jimmy Kimmel suspension.

What to watch

The book is available for preorder and will be released on March 2, 2027. Iger is set to leave the Disney board at the end of 2026. An unauthorized biography by Robbie Whelan is also expected to release later this year, potentially adding another perspective to the narrative of Disney's leadership changes.