As far as 90s culture goes, there are few comedy properties quite as iconic as Austin Powers. The James Bond spoof featured comedian Mike Myers in a variety of roles, and folks have been throwing out "Yeah, baby!" in decades following. Because nostalgia has been dictating TV and film production, many are wondering if the Austin Powers franchise could eventually return to the silver screen for more poop jokes and fembots. While it certainly seems like a possibility that Austin could make a reappearance, it seems franchise star Mike Myers is actually more interested in his nemesis Dr. Evil. When asked about the future of the franchise, Myers revealed how he'd like to focus on Dr. Evil, saying:
I would love to do a movie from Dr. Evil's perspective. So it would be Dr. Evil 1, Austin Powers 4, is how I would roll. Start the campaign, please. Thank you.
Although no future plans for the Austin Powers franchise have been made, Mike Myers seems to understand the power of the internet and a passionate fandom. He'll need to drum up excitement to be given two more movies within the Austin Powers franchise, so all those 90s kids longing to return to the property need to make their voices known.
Mike Myer's comments to ET are sure to be intriguing for those familiar with the Austin Powers franchise. While Dr. Evil, Fat Bastard, and Mike Myers' other characters are all given time to shine, the trilogy is largely told through the spectacled eyes of the International Man of Mystery. Goldmember helped to expand Dr. Evil's past, but it would be a unique idea to focus the next movie on the villain.
Changing the format to focus on Dr. Evil might be exactly what Austin Powers needs to return, without seeming desperate or tired. A Dr. Evil movie would be able to provide the fans with something new, while also potentially introducing a new generation to the ridiculous characters that were introduced in 1997 original.
Of course, bringing a Dr. Evil into the world will have its own set of challenges. Perhaps the most obvious at the moment is the recent death of actor Verne Troyer, who played Mini-Me in the two Austin Powers sequels. The relationship between Dr. Evil and his clone has always been one of the franchise's most ridiculous and surprisingly sweet plot points, and it just won't be the same without Troyer's character. The actor tragically passed away April 21, 2018 at the age of 49 after suffering from alcohol poisoning.
Considering how many long awaited sequels and reboots are currently arriving in the silver screen, it seems plausible that Austin Powers could return at some point. While Mike Myers seems eager to reprise his role(s), a strong enough story will likely have to be crafted in order for a studio to get in bed with it. After all, a new sequel will likely be compared to the myriad other reboots out there.
Mike Myers is set to appear in the Freddy Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, as well as Margot Robbie's upcoming heist thriller Terminal. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
