Yesterday, a new Verizon ad featured Mike Myers as Dr. Evil, a character he hasn’t played since “Austin Powers in Goldmember” back in 2002. That’s actually the last time Austin Powers appeared on the big screen, 24 years ago.
Myers was a guest on Trevor Noah’s World Cup Watch Party and was asked whether there would be an ‘Austin Powers 4.’ His answer was a resounding “yes!,” which has now been picked up by various media outlets. Of note, he had previously stated “I would be very surprised if it didn’t happen.”
Back in December 2024, I reported hearing rumblings about this one finally being in development. Warner Bros. and New Line were partnering again, and Jay Roach was set to return as director.
So, something is brewing. Myers wants to get another ‘Austin Powers’ made. I’d be fine with that. Will Fat Bastard be there? It doesn’t help that Vern Troyer, who played Mini-Me, sadly passed away in 2018. No, what I’d been hearing was that Myers wanted the sequel to focus primarily on Powers and Dr. Evil.
The Canadian actor first starred as Austin “Danger” Powers and Dr. Evil in 1997’s “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.” He would go on to portray characters such as Fat Bastard and Goldmember in the franchise’s two follow-up installments: ‘The Spy Who Shagged Me’ (1999) and “Austin Powers in Goldmember” (2002).
I don’t doubt there’s demand for ‘Austin Powers 4.’ Just look at the success of “Scary Movie 6.” These types of comedies are not all that expensive to make, but is there a genuinely good reason to bring it back? Has Myers found a story that’s actually worth telling? It’s taken him 24 years to find the right idea, and apparently it has now come to him.
Over the last few years, Myers has mostly stayed out of the spotlight. In 2022, he created and starred in the Netflix comedy series “The Pentaverate,” playing multiple characters, and returned to the big screen in “Amsterdam” (2022), where he played a small supporting role.