Bob Chapek’s new book, Behind the Castle Walls, is a long, unflattering portrait of the man who handed him the keys to Disney and then spent years trying to take them back. The former CEO tells Variety that he believes ex-CEO Bob Iger pushed him out of his job because Iger couldn’t let go of the throne. The book, which comes out Sept. 29, is a 30-year memoir of Chapek’s time at the Mouse House, and it reads like a slow-motion revenge fantasy.
Chapek took over as Disney CEO in February 2020, appointed by Iger as his hand-picked successor. That was right before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States. Within two years, the board ousted Chapek in November 2022 and called Iger back into service. Iger stepped down as CEO this March, replaced by former parks head Josh D’Amaro. Now Chapek is telling his version of the story, and it is not flattering to anyone involved.
Iger’s Big Claim About Walt
One of the most striking moments in the book comes from years before Chapek ever became CEO. The two were discussing the role of Disney’s chief executive officer, and Chapek remarked that no one is bigger than the company. To his surprise, Iger disagreed.
“He went on to say, it seemed to me in that moment, that he considered himself the modern reincarnation of Walt Disney,” Chapek writes. “As a result, he wasn’t just the next CEO to come along. He thought he was somewhat unique and special in the history of Disney CEOs. I was surprised, because it did not match up to the façade.”
Chapek mentions Iger 121 times in the book. That number alone suggests the relationship was central to his story. The book also includes a passage about Chapek’s awkward CNBC interview on Feb. 25, 2020, the day after he was named CEO. Both men wore black suits with white button-down shirts, which Chapek compared to a scene from the movie “Twins” with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito.
“Bob Iger seemed intent on making sure people knew we weren’t the same,” Chapek says. “In hindsight, I should have seen some clues that things were somewhat off.”
The CNBC Interview Where Iger Looked Unhappy
During the interview, Chapek noticed something odd about Iger’s demeanor. “He didn’t appear to be a man relieved of the responsibilities of one of the world’s most influential companies. Instead, he looked uncomfortable, perhaps even miserable. No, he looked more than that. With his arms crossed, I could see that he was angry.”
Chapek says the moment was a clue that things were not quite right. He also maintains that Iger was “the real reason” the board dismissed him. “From the moment he announced my appointment, he clearly regretted it and seemed to initiate a relentless three-year campaign to push me out,” he writes.
“I’d always made it clear I had big shoes to fill. But I’d never expected to endure a drawn-out, purposeful undoing of my leadership,” Chapek continues. “This was not a happy time for Bob. Because of his own feelings about the company and his place in it, he was having an incredibly difficult time with the idea of moving on.”
Chapek Says He Did Nothing Wrong
Chapek’s central claim is that he was dismissed unfairly. “My abrupt dismissal hurt my reputation, leaving those close to me, outsiders, and some within the kingdom trying to figure out what I did wrong,” he says. “The answer, again, is nothing. I have tried to live my life to leave an impeccable personal legacy. If I ran for political office — which I have no plans to, by the way—no one would find any scandals.”
He also disputes the idea that he was pushed out by a series of missteps. “From day one as CEO, I had respected the board’s decision to have him remain as executive chairman, directing creative endeavors and overseeing the transition until late 2021,” he writes. “But I’d never expected to endure a drawn-out, purposeful undoing of my leadership.”
The Don’t Say Gay Blow-Up
Chapek devotes significant space to Disney’s response to the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act, also known as “Don’t Say Gay.” The law was designed to limit discussion about gender and sexual identity in state schools from kindergarten through third grade. In 2022, the legislation “became a lightning rod for the larger cultural divide that the COVID pandemic had inflamed,” Chapek writes.
While the board and Chapek were having internal discussions about how to respond, Iger jumped ahead. “While the board and I were having internal discussions about how to respond to the legislation, which had yet to officially pass, Bob tweeted, ‘I’m with the President [Biden] on this! If passed, this bill will put vulnerable, young LGBTQ people in jeopardy,’” Chapek recounts.
“That tweet made my job all the harder getting the Florida legislature to soften the bill,” Chapek writes. “Instead, Governor DeSantis and his allies became even more entrenched.” As CEO, Chapek believed the company should avoid a public statement that could be misrepresented. An internal memo to Disney staffers explained that the company would be more effective “working behind the scenes” with Governor DeSantis and the legislators.
Chapek claims that “it was outside political groups and not our employees” behind the demonstrations of Disney’s lack of a stance on Don’t Say Gay. He also says that Iger used the situation to show that none of it would have happened on his watch. “He was implying none of this would have happened on his watch, and all this was a simple and clear decision for the company,” Chapek says.
What Iger Said to Writers
After the Don’t Say Gay controversy, Chapek says Iger reached out to the creative community. “He continued to reach out to the creative community he was working with — the writers, animators, directors, actors, etc. — to express his regret” over Disney’s inaction on the bill, Chapek writes.
In a CNN interview near the end of March 2022, Iger said, “Sometimes it’s just a matter of right and wrong.” Chapek interpreted that as Iger saying the situation was the perfect opportunity to show he was right and Chapek was wrong.
The Legacy of Walt
Chapek’s book is a reminder that corporate power struggles are rarely about strategy or performance. They are about ego, and about who gets to define the legacy of a company. Iger positioned himself as that legacy’s modern champion. Chapek saw through that facade early on.
The book is scheduled for release on Sept. 29. It promises to be a detailed look at a company that has dominated American culture for decades, and a reminder that even the happiest places on earth have their own stories. Chapek’s account of Iger’s “modern reincarnation of Walt Disney” boast and his awkward CNBC interview read as a tale of corporate vanity and a CEO who seemed glad to get rid of him.
Key Facts Box
- Book: Behind the Castle Walls
- Release date: Sept. 29
- Iger mentioned: 121 times in the memoir
- Chapek named CEO: February 2020
- Board ousted Chapek in November 2022
- Iger returns: Called back into service
- Iger steps down: This March
- Replaced by: Former parks head Josh D’Amaro
Quick Takeaways
- Chapek says Iger was “the real reason” he was dismissed.
- Iger claimed to be the “modern reincarnation of Walt Disney.”
- The CNBC interview on Feb. 25, 2020 showed Iger looking uncomfortable.
- Iger tweeted support for Biden on the Don’t Say Gay bill.
- Chapek says the demonstrations came from outside political groups, not Disney staff.
Source material: “12 Takeaways From Ousted Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s New Book,” Variety.
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