Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek to Release Memoir, Detail Fallout with Bob Iger

Former Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Chapek is set to release a memoir next week, offering an inside account of his tenure and the circumstances surrounding his departure. The book, titled "Behind The Castle Walls: My Thirty Years at the Happiest Place on Earth," is scheduled for publication on September 29, 2026, by Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster.

Chapek, who led Disney from February 2020 until his dismissal in 2022, aims to detail the internal dynamics of the company during his leadership. The memoir reportedly includes accounts of high-stakes maneuvers and challenges faced, including navigating the company through the unprecedented impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the shutdown of parks, theaters, and cruise ships shortly after he took the CEO position.

According to reports citing the book, Chapek alleges that his predecessor and successor, Bob Iger, was instrumental in his dismissal. Variety reported that Chapek argues Iger was "the real reason" the board decided to remove him. The memoir also suggests that Iger blamed Chapek for rising prices at Disney parks, a tactic Chapek claims Iger himself also employed.

Chapek's career at Disney spanned nearly three decades, beginning in 1993 as the marketing director for Home Entertainment. He held various key positions, including president of Disney consumer products and chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, before being appointed CEO.

"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," Chapek is quoted as writing in the book, reflecting on the impact of his exit.

The book's release comes after Bob Iger, who returned from retirement to resume the CEO role after Chapek's departure, stepped down earlier this year, with theme park executive Josh D’Amaro taking over as the company's chief executive.