In 1997, former Saturday Night Live star Mike Myers hit comedy gold with Austin Powers:
International Man of Mystery, which was followed by hit sequels in 1999 and 2002.
But despite the massive popularity and box office success of the franchise, and the fact
that everyone involved wants to make another movie, we're still waiting for the next installment…
and we may have to keep waiting.
Here's a look at why we never got to see Austin Powers 4.
Development hell
The Austin Powers franchise generated a ton of revenue for New Line Cinema, money which
the studio invested in films like the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
But while that should have ensured them footing for Austin Powers 4, New Line Cinema got themselves
in a world of financial trouble with expensive flops like The Golden Compass and through
public accounting disputes with Lord of the Rings mastermind Peter Jackson.
All of which led to New Line Cinema pushing hard for Austin Powers 4 in order to shore
up their sinking ship.
But before it could get made, the studio went under and was bought out by Warner Bros.
No wonder development on Austin Powers 4 has stalled indefinitely.
Austin Powers 3 wasn't...good
The first two Austin Powers movies saw the character move from cult phenom to blockbuster
franchise star, spoofing James Bond while adding a slew of new catchphrases to our vocabulary.
"One MILLION dollars!"
But despite being a financial success, the third film, Austin Powers in Goldmember, didn't
quite live up to the reputation of its predecessors.
It opened to middling reviews, thanks in part to an overreliance on pop culture jokes of
the era, which have not aged well at all.
A Britney Spears cameo?
A Silence of the Lambs parody?
A scene with the Osbournes?
With Goldmember, Austin Powers lost some of his mojo, meaning fans haven't exactly been
demanding a fourth film.
Career downturn
Between Austin Powers and Shrek, there was a time when Mike Myers couldn't do anything
wrong.
Unfortunately for him and his fans, that time was more than a decade ago.
Since then, it's been a rocky road for Myers, both professionally and personally.
In 2005, Myers and his wife Robin, who he had described as his "muse" and who urged
him to write the first Austin Powers film to begin with, divorced.
And the one-time star suffered a string of box office and critical bombs, including 2008's
The Love Guru — which as of the time of this video, is still the last major film role
Myers has taken on.
Considering it's been nearly a decade since Myers has made any movie, the chances of Austin
Powers 4 happening at this point seem very remote indeed.
"Right.
Okay, people, you have to tell me these things, alright?
I've been frozen for thirty years, okay?!
Throw me a frickin' bone here!"
The Animated Hold Up
So how cool would it be to see a TV series that mixed the best parts of both Shrek and
Austin Powers?
That might sound like a pipe dream, but it came very close to happening after Myers cut
a deal with HBO for an animated Austin Powers series featuring Myers as the voice of both
Austin Powers and Dr. Evil.
HBO commissioned a 13-episode season, which was going to feature the kind of adult-themed
content you would expect to see on an HBO cartoon.
Myers even hinted at the possibility of an animated prequel origin film for Austin Powers
as well.
And then, well, nothing happened.
HBO quietly cancelled the series, and though neither the network nor Myers has ever confirmed
why, writer Eric Goldman has hinted that Myers backed out of the project.
Well, we thought that was a good idea, even if Myers didn't.
"Dr. Evil, I love your plan."
"Ja, eh?"
"Ja, Herr Doktor.
It's a REALLY good plan."
It still could happen...
Despite all the hold-ups and dead ends the franchise has suffered so far, it's possible
that there will eventually be an Austin Powers 4 for one simple reason: Myers says he still
wants to make it.
In fact, he's been pretty consistent on this point, telling the press in 2007, 2010, and
2016 that he was still working on the film.
Exactly what Austin Powers 4 will look like when it finally arrives is unknown, though
at one point, Myers said the next film will focus on Dr. Evil's relationship with his
son, Scott Evil.
"Well, don't look at me like I'm frickin' Frankenstein, give your father a hug."
And director Jay Roach, who helmed the first three films, has said he also wants to be
involved, which would make it a true Austin Powers reunion.
"You know, Mike gave me the break of a lifetime in letting me direct Austin 1.
So I'm always good to go…"
"You have any ideas about what 4 would be like?"
Well, Larry, probably something a lot like...this:
"Oh, behave.
Yeah.
Yeah, baby!
Yeah!"
And also this:
"Get in my belly!"
And of course, lots and lots of this:
"Welcome to my new submarine lair.
It's long and hard and full of seamen!"
"Nothing?
No?
Not even a titter?
Tough sub."
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