No matter how dated the catchphrase may now be, there’s no denying the enduring popularity of the Austin Powers franchise, with International Man of Mystery (1997), The Spy who Shagged Me (1999), and Goldmember (2003) being deserved comedy classics, even if by Goldmember the characters were beginning to outstay their welcome. The final entry was the perfect send off to the franchise, but it turns out director Jay Roach and star Mike Myers aren’t ruling out the return of the oversexed super spy and his scene stealing arch nemesis Dr. Evil, with Roach saying as much during an interview on Larry King Now:
“Yes, I’m prepared to do anything, you know, if it’s good. If it feels like it’s going to be thrilling.”
With International Man of Mystery taking the piss out of James Bond at a time when Pierce Brosnan was breathing life back into franchise after a hiatus of ten years, the best idea would be for the character to take potshots at the more gritty spy movies of recent years, namely the Bourne movies and even the fact that Bond went down this route with Casino Riyale and Quantum of Solace. But is the audience for the franchise still there? While I still love these movies, and Dr. Evil’s return on SNL last year made me all sorts of happy, their time has come and gone. What say you? Sound off in the comments below.
“You know, Mike Myers and I talk about it every time we get together,” said Roach on Larry King Now. “I would say it’s in a latent phase right now, but someday if we find the right idea that seems to have it earn itself, for sure. Mike gave me the break of a lifetime in letting me direct so I’m always good to go.”
This isn’t something out of the blue though, with Myers saying he was up for the return in a GQ interview in 2014:“Yes, I’m prepared to do anything, you know, if it’s good. If it feels like it’s going to be thrilling.”
With International Man of Mystery taking the piss out of James Bond at a time when Pierce Brosnan was breathing life back into franchise after a hiatus of ten years, the best idea would be for the character to take potshots at the more gritty spy movies of recent years, namely the Bourne movies and even the fact that Bond went down this route with Casino Riyale and Quantum of Solace. But is the audience for the franchise still there? While I still love these movies, and Dr. Evil’s return on SNL last year made me all sorts of happy, their time has come and gone. What say you? Sound off in the comments below.
