Austin Powers

Austin Powers is a series of spy action comedy films: Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997), Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) and Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002). The films were produced and written by Mike Myers, who also starred as the title character and Dr. Evil. They were directed by Jay Roach and distributed by New Line Cinema.

Austin Powers
Series logo
Directed byJay Roach
Produced by
Written by
Starring
Music byGeorge S. Clinton
Distributed byNew Line Cinema
Release date
1997–2002
Running time
286 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$112.5 million
Box office$876.3 million

The franchise parodies numerous films and characters, including the James Bond series and Jason King, and incorporates myriad other elements of popular culture as it follows a British spy's quest to bring his nemesis down. The character represents an archetype of 1960s Swinging London, with his advocacy of free love, his use of obscure impressions and his clothing style.

The films poke fun at the outrageous plots, rampant sexual innuendo, and two dimensional stock characters associated with 1960s spy films, as well as the cliché of the ultra suave super spy.

The general theme of the films is that the arch villain Dr. Evil plots to extort large sums of money from governments or international bodies but is constantly thwarted by Powers, and (to a degree) his own inexperience with life and culture in the 1990s.

In Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, Austin and Dr. Evil are awakened after being cryogenically frozen for thirty years. Continuing to incorporate cultural elements of the 1960s and 1970s, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and Austin Powers in Goldmember feature time travel as a plot device and deliberately overlook inconsistencies. A proposed fourth film, Austin Powers 4, has reportedly been in development since 2005, but has since been stalled.

Development

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.

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.”[1]

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."[2]

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).[3]

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.[3]

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 Valley, made sketches, and showed Myers the design. Myers told him that he had "nailed it".[4]

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 the fictional 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.[5] Myers was also influenced by the comedy troupe Monty Python, with film critic Robbie Collin writing “the Austin Powers series chugs along on Pythonisms.”[6]

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 Beatles films, The Monkees television series, James Bond, and the "cocktail party" skits from Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In. Powers was also influenced by the secret agent Harry Palmer (played by Michael Caine in three films, including the 1965 film The Ipcress File).[7] Caine himself starred in Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002), with his portrayal of Nigel Powers, father of Austin Powers, spoofing Harry Palmer.[7]

Main cast and crew
Actor Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me Austin Powers in Goldmember
Mike MyersAustin Powers
Dr. Evil
–Fat Bastard
––Goldmember
Michael YorkBasil Exposition
Robert WagnerNumber 2
Mindy SterlingFrau Farbissina
Seth GreenScott Evil
Elizabeth HurleyVanessa Kensington–
Verne Troyer–Mini-Me
Heather Graham–Felicity Shagwell–
Beyoncé Knowles––Foxxy Cleopatra
Michael Caine––Nigel Powers
Credit Austin Powers:
International Man of Mystery		 Austin Powers:
The Spy Who Shagged Me		 Austin Powers in Goldmember
DirectorJay Roach
ProducersMike Myers
Demi Moore
Jennifer Todd
Suzanne Todd		Mike Myers
John S. Lyons
Eric McLeod
Demi Moore
Jennifer Todd
Suzanne Todd
WritersMike MyersMike Myers
Michael McCullers
ComposerGeorge S. Clinton
CinematographerPeter DemingUeli SteigerPeter Deming
EditorsDebra Neil-Fisher
Dawn Hoggatt		Debra Neil-Fisher
Jon Poll		Greg Hayden
Jon Poll
Production
company		Capella International
Moving Pictures
Eric's Boy		Team Todd
Moving Pictures
Eric's Boy		Gratitude International
Team Todd
Moving Pictures
DistributorNew Line Cinema

Cars
Powers' "Shaguar"

The series featured two cars number plates "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" (number plate "SWNGR 3") in the third.

Additionally, Felicity Shagwell drives a 1965 Chevrolet Corvette with an American flag paint scheme in the second film and Nigel Powers has a 2001 Mini Cooper – able to travel underwater, and which bears the number plate "GR8SHAG" – in the third.

Reception
See also: List of accolades received by the Austin Powers film series

Box office performance
Film Release date Budget Box office revenue Box office ranking Ref
United States Foreign Worldwide All time domestic All time worldwide
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery May 2, 1997 $16.5 million $53,883,989 $13,800,000 $67,683,989 #1,171 [8]
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me June 11, 1999 $33 million $206,040,086 $105,976,772 $312,016,858 #119 & #152[lower-alpha 1] #257 [9]
Austin Powers in Goldmember July 26, 2002 $63 million $213,307,889 $83,347,542 $296,655,431 #110 & #188[lower-alpha 1] #283 [10]
Total $112.5 million $473,231,964 $203,124,314 $676,356,278 [11]

Critical reaction
Film Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic
International Man of Mystery 71% (62 reviews)[12] 51 (25 reviews)[13]
The Spy Who Shagged Me 52% (87 reviews)[14] 59 (34 reviews)[15]
Goldmember 54% (185 reviews)[16] 62 (34 reviews)[17]

Media

Films

The series consists of three films:

Games

Video games

Other

Cancelled animated series

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.[18][19][20]

Possible fourth film

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."[21]

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".[22] 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.[23]

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'd start work on it after he started work on The Love Guru, which became a box office bomb.[24] 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.[25]

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.[26] 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."[27] 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."[28]

In March 2010, Jay Roach indicated to MTV that Myers is working on ideas for a fourth film.[29][30] In August 2011, Mike Myers revealed he would return, and had begun writing a script for a fourth installment.[31] In September 2013, when asked about the future of Austin Powers, Myers answered "I'm still figuring that out."[32] In September 2015, Verne Troyer expressed his desire to return as Mini-Me if he was asked to do so.[33]

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.[34] In August 2016, in a telephone interview, Mike Myers stated "Everything is being negotiated and worked out and all that stuff" in regards to the fourth installment of the Austin Powers film series.[35]

In April 2017, as the twentieth anniversary approached for Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, Mike Myers claimed, "I would love to do another, but you just have to see".[36] Two days later, Roach stated that a fourth film would only occur if Myers creates a good story for it.[37] In May 2017, Troyer stated that Mini-Me would reveal that he can speak in the fourth movie.[38] 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.[39] However, Troyer died on April 21, 2018, delaying production even further and precluding him from reprising his role as Mini-Me.[40] Roach claimed in an interview that a fourth Austin Powers film may not be possible without Troyer.[41]

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.[42] 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 of how long the production has lasted and that Roach will most likely reprise his directorial duties.[43]

In January 2020, Jay Roach again indicated that he was interested in doing a fourth film.[44]

Notes
  1. Adjusted totals based on current ticket prices by Box Office Mojo.
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References
  1. “Yeah, baby! Myers says Austin Powers 4 is looking good”. RTE. Retrieved 2 November 2018
  2. Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007. Passion Pictures / Red Box Films. 2014-01-05.
  3. John Storey (2010). "Culture and Power in Cultural Studies: The Politics of Signification". p. 60. Edinburgh University Press
  4. Jenkin, David (2 February 2017). "Dentally challenged – the art of creating false teeth for the movies". Little White Lies. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  5. Higgs, John (2015). Stranger Than We Can Imagine: Making Sense of the Twentieth Century. Soft Skull Press. ISBN 9781619026803.
  6. Collin, Robbie (21 November 2013). "Monty Python reunion: no one else has the nerve to do what Python do". The Telegraph. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  7. "Michael Caine: Austin Powers in Goldmember". BBC. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  8. "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
  9. "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
  10. "Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
  11. "Austin Powers series". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  12. "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  13. "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery". Metacritic. CNET Networks, Inc. 2012-09-17.
  14. "Austin Powers: the Spy Who Shagged Me". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  15. "Austin Powers: the Spy Who Shagged Me". Metacritic. CNET Networks, Inc. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
  16. "Austin Powers in Goldmember". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  17. "Austin Powers in Goldmember". Metacritic. CNET Networks, Inc. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
  18. Kaplan, Don (1999-05-04). "YEAH, BABY! HBO SINKS TEETH INTO 'AUSTIN POWERS' CARTOON". The New York Post. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
  19. Seiler, Andy (1999-06-21). "The spy who won't go away HBO will animate 'Austin Powers,' and a third movie is expected". USA Today. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
  20. Ressner, Jeffrey (1999-06-21). "Cinema: Austin's Power". Time. Retrieved 2010-12-04.
  21. "Mike Myers may return to ''Austin Powers''". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2015-04-26.
  22. "IGN: Interview: Mike Myers and Antonio Banderas". IGN. Retrieved 2015-04-26.
  23. "'Austin Powers' needs to kill off Fat Bastard".
  24. Adler, Shawn (8 May 2007). "Mike Myers Revives Dr. Evil, Plus Kirsten Dunst, 'High School Musical' & More, In Movie File". MTV. Retrieved 2015-04-26.
  25. Orange, B. Alan (14 April 2008). "Is Gisele Bundchen the Next 'Austin Powers' Girl?". Movieweb.com. Retrieved 2015-04-26.
  26. "Sorry Giselle But 'Austin Powers 4’ Still Isn't Happening, Says Seth Green".
  27. "Mike Myers on Love Guru, Shrek 4, Austin 4 and Wayne's World". Latino Review. Retrieved 2015-04-26.
  28. "Mike Myers is Writing Austin Powers 4". Slashfilm. Retrieved 2015-04-26.
  29. "Fourth 'Austin Powers' Movie Will Go 'Somewhere You Haven't Though Of,' Jay Roach Says". MTV. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  30. "Mike Myers Revives Dr. Evil". MTV. Retrieved 2007-05-09.
  31. "Exclusive: Mike Myers is signed, sealed, delivered for 'Austin Powers 4'". Hitfix. Retrieved 2015-04-26.
  32. "Toronto: Fleming Q&A's Mike Myers On 'Supermensch' Directorial Debut". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  33. "Verne Troyer waiting for the call for Austin Powers 4". September 23, 2015.
  34. "Austin Powers 4 could still happen, according to director Jay Roach - NME". May 20, 2016.
  35. The Canadian Press (25 August 2016). "Mike Myers talks 'Wayne's World,' the Leafs, 'Austin Powers'". The Chronicle Herald. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  36. "Austin Powers 4: 'I would love to do another' Mike Meyers says as original turns 20". independent.co.uk. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  37. "Jay Roach On Why There's No "Austin Powers 4" - Dark Horizons". www.darkhorizons.com.
  38. "Verne Troyer teases Austin Powers 4: Mini Me will speak!". May 26, 2017.
  39. Sharf, Zack (2018-04-05). "Mike Myers Returns as Dr. Evil to Mock Donald Trump Jr.: 'He Looks Like He's Missing a Facial Feature' — Watch". IndieWire. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  40. "Austin Powers Star Verne Troyer Dies at 49". People. April 21, 2018.
  41. Sharf, Zack (2019-07-30). "'Austin Powers' Director Says Fourth Movie Would've Gone Deep on Verne Troyer's Mini-Me". IndieWire. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  42. "New Austin Powers film is a 'very strong maybe', says Mike Myers". Sky News. May 9, 2018.
  43. "Mike Myers says 'Austin Powers 4' is 'looking good'". NME. November 1, 2018.
  44. Hammond, Pete (2020-01-04). "'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". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
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