Austin Powers

{{OR section|date=July 2023}}

Myers himself has stated in interviews that the idea for Austin Powers came to him one night while driving home from ice hockey practice. Hearing the song "The Look of Love" by Burt Bacharach on his car radio, he wondered "Where have all the swingers gone?" and conceived the character who would become Austin Powers.{{cite magazine | title=Why the Cinema of Swinging London Matters, 50 Years Later | magazine=Vanity Fair | date=2016-02-05 | url=https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2016/02/why-the-cinema-of-swinging-london-matters | access-date=2022-04-26}}

In an interview in November 2018 with Access Hollywood, Myers stated, "After my dad died in 1991, I was taking stock of his influence on me as a person and his influence on me with comedy in general. So Austin Powers was a tribute to my father, who [introduced me to] James Bond, Peter Sellers, The Beatles, The Goodies, Peter Cook and Dudley Moore."[https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2018/1102/1008202-yeah-baby-myers-says-austin-powers-4-is-looking-good/ "Yeah, baby! Myers says Austin Powers 4 is looking good"]. RTE. Retrieved November 2, 2018

The Austin Powers character first appeared in the band Ming Tea, with Myers as Powers, Susanna Hoffs as Jillian Shagwell, and Matthew Sweet as Sid Belvedere. Myers' wife Robin Ruzan said Myers should write a movie based on Powers.{{cite news|title=Hollywood Q&A|last=Thomlison|first=Adam|work=Winston-Salem Journal|via=TV Media|date=January 8, 2022|page=32}}

The first phrase he thought the character might say was "Do I make you horny?", which later did indeed become a catchphrase for the character. He has also disclosed that the character also draws on his recollections of former Radio Caroline DJ Simon Dee, who hosted the first real television chat show in the United Kingdom in 1967, which ended with his driving off in a sports car with a young blonde in the passenger seat. An important inspiration for the series is British super spy James Bond. Myers said of Bond, "I can't even tell you how huge it was in our house ... That's really why I wanted to do Austin Powers. Austin Powers is out of pure love for James Bond."{{Cite AV media |title=Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007 |date=January 5, 2014 |publisher=Passion Pictures / Red Box Films}}

Though Myers is Canadian by birth, his parents are natives of Liverpool, England, and Myers holds dual nationality. Although the films parody the plots and characters of 1960s spy movies and the Swinging London fashion scene of the era, the humour is influenced by Myers's British heritage, particularly the Carry On films and the comedic works of Benny Hill and Peter Sellers, the latter of whom Myers is a self confessed fan (his favorite films being the Bond spoof Casino Royale and The Party).John Storey (2010). "Culture and Power in Cultural Studies: The Politics of Signification". p. 60. Edinburgh University Press

{{Blockquote|Austin Powers is everything I watched (on TV in the late sixties). My parents were from Liverpool, and there's no one more English than an Englishman who no longer lives there. Every molecule of British culture that came across the Atlantic was tasted and worshipped.|Mike Myers}}

Powers' bad teeth were created by Los Angeles dental technician Gary Archer. Myers came to Archer and told him, "I want bad British 1960s teeth", based on a widely held stereotype. Archer took pictures of expat patrons at an English pub that he frequented in the San Fernando Valley, made sketches, and showed Myers the design. Myers told him that he had "nailed it".{{Cite web |last=Jenkin |first=David |date=February 2, 2017 |title=Dentally challenged – the art of creating false teeth for the movies |url=https://lwlies.com/articles/gary-archer-false-teeth-hollywood-movies/ |access-date=May 27, 2020 |website=Little White Lies}}

Influences from Sellers' films are apparent throughout the series; the character of Austin Powers reflects the inspiration of Sellers' portrayal of the character Robert Danvers in the 1970 film There's a Girl in My Soup. Myers states Powers' dandyish appearance was also inspired by that of Jason King – the adventurous character (played by Peter Wyngarde) from the ITV Spy fi series Department S who was featured in the eponymous spin off series.{{Cite book |last=Higgs |first=John |title=Stranger Than We Can Imagine: Making Sense of the Twentieth Century |publisher=Soft Skull Press |year=2015 |isbn=9781619026803}} Myers was also influenced by the comedy troupe Monty Python, with film critic Robbie Collin writing "the Austin Powers series chugs along on Pythonisms."{{Cite news |last=Collin |first=Robbie |date=November 21, 2013 |title=Monty Python reunion: no one else has the nerve to do what Python do |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/comedy/comedy-news/10459076/Monty-Python-reunion-no-one-else-has-the-nerve-to-do-what-Python-do.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/comedy/comedy-news/10459076/Monty-Python-reunion-no-one-else-has-the-nerve-to-do-what-Python-do.html |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=August 19, 2019}}{{cbignore}}

Other obviously apparent influences are the BBC's Adam Adamant Lives! television series, whose protagonist was a Victorian era spy, who was frozen in 1902, and then revived in the year 1966; The 1965 James Bond parody Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine, in which a mad scientist builds a small army of attractive female robots; the Matt Helm series of films starring Dean Martin; the Derek Flint movies starring James Coburn; The Beatles films, The Monkees television series, and the "cocktail party" skits from Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. Powers was also influenced by the secret agent Harry Palmer (played by Michael Caine in three films, beginning with the 1965 film The Ipcress File), especially Caine's thick horn-rimmed glasses.{{Cite news |title=Michael Caine: Austin Powers in Goldmember |agency=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2002/07/17/michael_caine_austin_powers_goldmember_interview.shtml |access-date=October 20, 2019}} Caine himself starred in Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002), with his portrayal of Nigel Powers, father of Austin Powers, spoofing Harry Palmer.

{{See also|List of Austin Powers characters}}

File:Austin Shaguar.jpg

The series featured two cars with license plates reading "SWINGER" and "SWINGER2" and collectively dubbed the "Shaguars" that were portrayed by a 1961 Jaguar E-Type and a 2001 Jaguar XK8 convertible, with a Union Jack paint scheme. The Ministry of Defence creates two cars to transport Powers through time: a psychedelic rainbow painted 1999 Volkswagen "New Beetle" convertible in the second film, and a purple 1975 Cadillac Eldorado Fleetwood "pimpmobile" (license plate "SWNGR 3") in the third.

In the second film, Felicity Shagwell drives a 1965 Chevrolet Corvette with an American flag paint scheme. In the third, Nigel Powers has a 2001 Mini Cooper which can travel underwater, and which bears the license plate "GR8 SHAG".

{{See also|List of accolades received by the Austin Powers film series}}

The series consists of three films:

• Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery released on May 2, 1997
• Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me released on June 11, 1999
• Austin Powers in Goldmember released on July 26, 2002

• Austin Powers' Electric Psychedelic Pussycat Swingers Club aired April 1997

• Austin Powers Operation: Trivia (PC, Macintosh, 1999)
• Austin Powers: Oh, Behave! (Game Boy Color, 2000)
• Austin Powers: Welcome to My Underground Lair! (Game Boy Color, 2000)
• Austin Powers Pinball (PlayStation and PC, 2002)
• Austin Powers: Mojo Rally (Dreamcast, Cancelled){{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/10/30/theyve-stolen-dreamcasts-mojo|title=They've Stolen Dreamcast's Mojo!|author=I. G. N. Staff|date=October 30, 2000|website=IGN}}

• Austin Powers, a ticket redemption game by Sega Pinball (1997)
• Austin Powers Collectible Card Game by Decipher Inc (1999)
• Austin Powers (pinball) (Stern Pinball, 2001)

HBO purchased the rights to produce an animated series based on the Austin Powers films in May 1999. Despite announcing plans for a thirteen-episode season, HBO ultimately shelved the project.{{Cite news |last=Kaplan |first=Don |date=May 4, 1999 |title=YEAH, BABY! HBO SINKS TEETH INTO 'AUSTIN POWERS' CARTOON |work=New York Post |url=https://nypost.com/1999/05/04/yeah-baby-hbo-sinks-teeth-into-austin-powers-cartoon/ |access-date=September 9, 2020}}{{Cite news |last=Seiler |first=Andy |date=June 21, 1999 |title=The spy who won't go away HBO will animate 'Austin Powers,' and a third movie is expected |work=USA Today |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/42551689.html?dids=42551689:42551689&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+21,+1999&author=Andy+Seiler&pub=USA+TODAY&desc=The+spy+who+won%27t+go+away+HBO+will+animate+%27Austin+Powers,%27+and+a+third+movie+is+expected&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130419000637/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/42551689.html?dids=42551689:42551689&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+21,+1999&author=Andy+Seiler&pub=USA+TODAY&desc=The+spy+who+won%27t+go+away+HBO+will+animate+%27Austin+Powers,%27+and+a+third+movie+is+expected&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 19, 2013 |access-date=November 5, 2010}}{{Cite magazine |last=Ressner |first=Jeffrey |date=June 21, 1999 |title=Cinema: Austin's Power |magazine=Time |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,991301-2,00.html |access-date=December 4, 2010 |archive-date=November 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106122139/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,991301-2,00.html |url-status=dead }}

In October 2005, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Mike Myers discussed the possibility of studio sources moving forward with a fourth film: "There is hope! We're all circling and talking to each other. I miss doing the characters."{{Cite magazine |title=Mike Myers may return to Austin Powers |url=https://ew.com/article/2005/10/07/mike-myers-may-return-austin-powers/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=April 26, 2015 |archive-date=January 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106081941/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1114708,00.html |url-status=live }}

In May 2007, in an interview with IGN, "So no more Austin Powers?" was asked, and Myers replied, "No, no, there is a fully conceived idea for a fourth and I can just say that it's from Dr. Evil's point of view. So if you balanced how much of it was Austin with Dr. Evil, it's more about Dr. Evil than Austin".{{Cite web |title=IGN: Interview: Mike Myers and Antonio Banderas |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/788/788829p2.html |access-date=April 26, 2015 |publisher=IGN}} Also, in the audio commentary from the DVD release of Austin Powers in Goldmember, Myers revealed that in the fourth film, Fat Bastard would return and regain the weight that he lost in Goldmember.{{Cite web|url=https://www.today.com/news/austin-powers-needs-kill-fat-bastard-wbna44147655|title='Austin Powers' needs to kill off Fat Bastard|website=TODAY.com|date=August 15, 2011 }}

In May 2007, at the Shrek the Third premiere, Mike Myers announced that a fourth Austin Powers film was planned, but that it would focus more on Dr. Evil rather than Austin. He also said that he would start work on it after he started work on The Love Guru, which became a box office bomb.{{Cite web |last=Adler |first=Shawn |date=May 8, 2007 |title=Mike Myers Revives Dr. Evil, Plus Kirsten Dunst, 'High School Musical' & More, In Movie File |url=http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1559113/20070501/story.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070513182600/http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1559113/20070501/story.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 13, 2007 |access-date=April 26, 2015 |publisher=MTV}} In February 2008, it was announced that Jay Roach would return as director. In April 2008, it was reported that Gisele Bündchen had been offered a role in the film.{{Cite web |last=Orange |first=B. Alan |date=April 14, 2008 |title=Is Gisele Bundchen the Next 'Austin Powers' Girl? |url=http://movieweb.com/is-gisele-bundchen-the-next-austin-powers-girl/ |access-date=April 26, 2015 |publisher=Movieweb.com}}

However, Seth Green, who played Scott Evil, stated that there was no script at the moment and that Austin Powers 4 would be made if a script is written and approved.{{Cite web |title=Sorry Giselle But 'Austin Powers 4' Still Isn't Happening, Says Seth Green |website=MTV |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2429982/sorry-giselle-but-austin-powers-4-still-isnt-happening-says-seth-green/#more-2191|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630201602/http://www.mtv.com/news/2429982/sorry-giselle-but-austin-powers-4-still-isnt-happening-says-seth-green/#more-2191|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 30, 2017}} In June 2008, in an interview, when asked about another Austin Powers film, Myers stated, "I have an idea, and again it's one of those things that will emerge or it won't."{{Cite news |title=Mike Myers on Love Guru, Shrek 4, Austin 4 and Wayne's World |publisher=Latino Review |url=http://www.latinoreview.com/news.php?id=4813 |access-date=April 26, 2015}} In July 2008, Mike Myers stated that he had begun writing Austin Powers 4, and that the plot is "really about Dr. Evil and his son."{{Cite web |title=Mike Myers is Writing Austin Powers 4 |date=July 30, 2008 |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/mike-myers-is-writing-austin-powers-4/ |access-date=April 26, 2015 |publisher=Slashfilm}}

In March 2010, Jay Roach indicated to MTV that Myers is working on ideas for a fourth film.{{Cite web |title=Fourth 'Austin Powers' Movie Will Go 'Somewhere You Haven't Though Of,' Jay Roach Says |url=http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2010/03/22/fourht-austin-powers-movie-will-go-somewhere-you-havent-though-of-jay-roach-says/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325010116/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2010/03/22/fourht-austin-powers-movie-will-go-somewhere-you-havent-though-of-jay-roach-says/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 25, 2010 |access-date=October 14, 2010 |publisher=MTV}}{{Cite web |title=Mike Myers Revives Dr. Evil |url=http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1559113/20070501/story.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070513182600/http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1559113/20070501/story.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 13, 2007 |access-date=May 9, 2007 |publisher=MTV}} In August 2011, Mike Myers revealed he would return, and had begun writing a script for a fourth installment.{{Cite web |title=Exclusive: Mike Myers is signed, sealed, delivered for 'Austin Powers 4' |url=http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/motion-captured/posts/exclusive-mike-myers-is-signed-sealed-delivered-and-austin-powers-04-is-coming |access-date=April 26, 2015 |work=Hitfix }}{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In September 2013, when asked about the future of Austin Powers, Myers answered "I'm still figuring that out."{{Cite web |title=Toronto: Fleming Q&A's Mike Myers On 'Supermensch' Directorial Debut |url=https://deadline.com/2013/09/toronto-fleming-qas-supermensch-helmer-mike-myers-on-shep-gordon-pic-580132/ |access-date=September 16, 2013 |website=Deadline Hollywood|date=September 6, 2013 }} In September 2015, Verne Troyer expressed his desire to return as Mini-Me if he was asked to do so.{{Cite web |date=September 23, 2015 |title=Verne Troyer waiting for the call for Austin Powers 4 |url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/entertainment/verne-troyer-waiting-for-the-call-for-austin-powers-4-697306.html}}

In May 2016, Roach was asked about the fourth Austin Powers film during an interview with Larry King, and he stated the ideas for the fourth film that he and Myers have are good and interesting.{{Cite web |date=May 20, 2016 |title=Austin Powers 4 could still happen, according to director Jay Roach - NME |website=NME |url=https://www.nme.com/news/film/austin-powers-4-could-still-happen-according-to-di-885106}} In August 2016, in a telephone interview, Mike Myers stated "Everything is being negotiated and worked out and all that stuff" regarding the fourth installment of the Austin Powers film series.{{Cite web |last=The Canadian Press |date=August 25, 2016 |title=Mike Myers talks 'Wayne's World,' the Leafs, 'Austin Powers' |url=http://thechronicleherald.ca/artslife/1391580-mike-myers-talks-waynes-world-the-leafs-austin-powers |access-date=August 27, 2016 |publisher=The Chronicle Herald}}

In April 2017, as the 20th anniversary approached for Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, Mike Myers claimed, "I would love to do another, but you just have to see".{{Cite web |date=April 28, 2017 |title=Austin Powers 4: 'I would love to do another' Mike Meyers says as original turns 20 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/austin-powers-4-new-film-movie-mike-myers-interview-a7707001.html |access-date=May 26, 2017 |work=The Independent}} Two days later, Roach stated that a fourth film would only occur if Myers creates a good story for it.{{Cite web |title=Jay Roach On Why There's No "Austin Powers 4" - Dark Horizons |url=http://www.darkhorizons.com/jay-roach-on-why-theres-no-austin-powers-4/ |website=www.darkhorizons.com|date=April 30, 2017 }} In May 2017, Troyer stated that Mini-Me would reveal that he can speak in the fourth movie.{{Cite web |date=May 26, 2017 |title=Verne Troyer teases Austin Powers 4: Mini Me will speak! |url=http://www.mymbuzz.com/2017/05/26/verne-troyer-teases-austin-powers-4-mini-me-will-speak/ |access-date=July 25, 2017 |archive-date=November 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127111319/http://www.mymbuzz.com/2017/05/26/verne-troyer-teases-austin-powers-4-mini-me-will-speak/ |url-status=dead }} On April 5, 2018, Myers reprised his role as Dr. Evil on a segment of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon complaining about having been dismissed from a Cabinet post in the Trump administration, raising speculation that a fourth film was in development.{{Cite web |last=Sharf |first=Zack |date=April 5, 2018 |title=Mike Myers Returns as Dr. Evil to Mock Donald Trump Jr.: 'He Looks Like He's Missing a Facial Feature' — Watch |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/04/mike-myers-dr-evil-donald-trump-cabinet-video-1201949302/ |access-date=April 8, 2020 |website=IndieWire}} Following the death of Verne Troyer on April 21, 2018, questions have been raised about the potential for a fourth film without the character of Mini-Me, or with the part recast.{{Cite magazine |date=April 21, 2018 |title=Austin Powers Star Verne Troyer Dies at 49 |url=http://people.com/movies/verne-troyer-dies-at-49/ |magazine=People}} Roach claimed in an interview that a fourth Austin Powers film may not be possible without Troyer.{{Cite web |last=Sharf |first=Zack |date=July 30, 2019 |title='Austin Powers' Director Says Fourth Movie Would've Gone Deep on Verne Troyer's Mini-Me |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/07/austin-powers-4-jay-roach-verne-troyer-mini-me-1202161908/ |access-date=April 8, 2020 |website=IndieWire}}

In May 2018, Myers reiterated his interest in making a fourth Austin Powers, stating that it would be fun, also hinting that some tribute to Troyer might be included.{{Cite web |date=May 9, 2018 |title=New Austin Powers film is a 'very strong maybe', says Mike Myers |url=https://news.sky.com/story/new-austin-powers-film-is-a-very-strong-maybe-says-mike-myers-11364974 |publisher=Sky News}} In November 2018, Myers stated that the project's future is "looking good" with the script already written and that Austin Powers and Dr. Evil will return soon, citing his parenthood as the reason for how long the delays in development in the film have lasted and that Roach will most likely reprise his directorial duties.{{Cite web |date=November 1, 2018 |title=Mike Myers says 'Austin Powers 4' is 'looking good' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/film/austin-powers-4-looking-good-2395852 |publisher=NME}}

In January 2020, Jay Roach again indicated that he was interested in doing a fourth film.{{Cite web |last=Hammond |first=Pete |date=January 4, 2020 |title='Bombshell' Director Jay Roach On His Explosive Film, Why Politics And Movies Should Mix, And If A Fourth 'Austin Powers' Will Ever Happen – Behind The Lens |url=https://deadline.com/video/jay-roach-bombshell-movie-director-interview-behind-the-lens/ |access-date=January 6, 2020 |website=Deadline |language=en}} In February 2022, Myers told The Today Show he "would love to do" a fourth Austin Powers movie but could "neither confirm nor deny" whether it would be made.{{Cite web |last=Lowe |first=Lindsay |date=February 10, 2022 |title=Mike Myers says he'd 'love' to do another 'Austin Powers' movie |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/movies/mike-myers-says-d-love-another-austin-powers-movie-rcna15716 |access-date=February 13, 2022 |website=The Today Show}}

In October 2022, Mike Myers stated on the Tonight Show that he would "love" to make another Austin Powers film, again citing parenting as the main reason as to why the film has not yet been made.{{cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1349612/would-mike-myers-do-another-austin-powers-movie-he-says|title=Would Mike Myers Do Another Austin Powers Movie? He Says...|date=October 8, 2022|last=Parker|first=Ashley Joy|work=E! News|access-date=October 9, 2022}}

As of 2025, Austin Powers 4 has yet to be produced due to both promotional sensibilities and casting difficulties.

The Austin Powers films have attracted controversy for their adult content while receiving the less-restricted PG-13-rating in the United States, prior to critics' protests against the MPAA's ratings in 2010.{{cite web |url= https://www.slashfilm.com/mpaa-rating-nc-17-blue-valentine-tillman-story-kings-speech/ |title=Why the MPAA Should Be Ashamed of Itself |last=Chen |first=David |work=slashfilm.com |access-date=May 9, 2024 |date=November 8, 2010}} Nell Minow of Common Sense Media expressed concern about the films exposing minors to explicit sexual content.{{cite web|url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/austin-powers-the-spy-who-shagged-me|title=Raunchy Austin Powers sequel full of sex and bathroom humor|work=Common Sense Media}} In Malaysia, the films were regarded to be almost pornographic; The Spy Who Shagged Me was banned from being screened{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/392036.stm|title=Malaysia bans Austin Powers|work=BBC News|date=July 12, 1999|access-date=May 9, 2024}} while Goldmember was released with the 18SX-rating.

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