Mike Myers Shares Thoughts on Austin Powers 4 and Its Potential as a Video Game
With the buzz around Shrek 5 filling the air, it was only fitting that Mike Myers would face questions about his other iconic but currently inactive franchise, Austin Powers, during his latest interview.
That moment arrived on Tuesday when Myers joined Trevor Noah for a live World Cup watch party. Noah, representing the audience, asked if we could expect an Austin Powers 4. Without hesitation, Myers responded with a confident “yes” while popping a gummy candy into his mouth. It felt like he was about to shout “YEAH, BABY! YEAH!”—a clear affirmation nonetheless.
The groovy universe of Austin Powers has been absent from theaters since 2002, when Beyoncé was set to star as Foxxy Cleopatra alongside an aging white guy. Yet, the franchise’s cultural impact remains strong, particularly through the character of Dr. Evil, whom Myers has reprised in various commercials since the films wrapped up.
Just recently, Verizon launched a new ad featuring Dr. Evil, perfectly timed with the World Cup. Coincidence? Unlikely. The good news is that Myers, along with Seth Green, Rob Lowe, and Mindy Sterling as Frau Farbissina, still have the star power to make it happen.
Myers has been hinting at the potential for Austin Powers 4 since at least 2018, suggesting it would eventually come together but would require the right inspiration. He mentioned that the focus might shift more towards Dr. Evil than the titular character. However, progress on this long-awaited project has been slow over the past eight years, with original director Jay Roach commenting in 2020 that it hinges on Myers finding the right motivation.
“I wouldn’t say ‘never’ never,” Roach stated, “but it does depend on Mike having something that he’s inspired about, and after all these years, it hasn’t quite clicked yet.”
Myers’ quick affirmation to Noah about Austin Powers 4 certainly hints that New Line Cinema, which distributed the first three films, could soon be back in the game. While the acquisition of New Line and Warner Bros. Pictures by Skydance Paramount could complicate things, the project seems much closer to reality than the long-rumored Love Guru 2.
Recently, we took a deep dive into the Austin Powers films to see if they still resonate today. Good news: they do! In a landscape where comedies often rely on improvised humor, Myers’ return to his PG-13 antics sounds like a nostalgic treat. The real question is: what could he parody this time around?
A unique challenge in reviving Austin Powers is the current state of the James Bond franchise. The spy series is currently in a state of uncertainty. Despite Daniel Craig delivering two of the best 007 films, 2021’s No Time to Die marked a convoluted end to his tenure. As the search for a new young British actor to take over begins, Amazon has acquired full rights to the franchise and has brought Denis Villeneuve on board for the next installment, but details have been scarce.
Would Austin Powers 4 draw inspiration from Craig’s more serious approach or stick to its own swinging ’60s vibe that sparked a cultural revival in the 2000s? As long as we get another edition of the blue-shag-carpeted official Austin Powers backgammon set, I’ll be satisfied.
But here’s a thought: instead of just Austin Powers 4, how about bringing Austin to video games again? It’s been far too long since we had a playable Austin Powers experience, with the last titles being Game Boy Color’s Austin Powers: Oh, Behave! and Austin Powers: Welcome to My Underground Lair!, both released on the same day in September 2000 by Rockstar Games.
With 007 First Light performing well in sales, it seems like the perfect opportunity to parody Bond in a modern action-adventure AAA game. We never got a solid GoldenEye spoof featuring Mini-Me, Fat Bastard, Ivana Humpalot, and Random Task. I hope Myers and Warner Bros. Games seize this chance.
But who am I kidding? I’d settle for Austin Powers 4, and then Dr. Evil could join Fortnite right around the release. A gamer can dream…
