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Austin Powers

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This article is about the film series. For the title character, see Austin Powers (character). For other uses, see Austin Powers (disambiguation).

Austin Powers
Directed byJay Roach
Written by
Produced by
Starring
Music byGeorge S. Clinton
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures (New Line Cinema)
Release date
1997–2002
Running time
286 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$112.5 million
Box office$676.3 million

Austin Powers is a series of American satirical spy comedy films created by Mike Myers, who stars as the British spy Austin Powers as well as his arch-nemesis, Dr. Evil. The series consists of International Man of Mystery (1997), The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) and Goldmember (2002), all of which were directed by Jay Roach, and co-produced and released by New Line Cinema.

The series is a satire of numerous films and characters, particularly the James Bond series and Jason King, and incorporates many other elements of popular culture as it follows a British spy's quest to bring down his nemesis. The character of Powers represents an archetype of 1960s Swinging London, with his advocacy of free love, his use of obscure impressions and his clothing style. The films also poke fun at the outrageous plots, rampant sexual innuendo, and one-dimensional stock characters associated with 1960s spy films.

Development

[edit]

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.[1]

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."[2]

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.[3]

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."[4]

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).[5]

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[5]

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".[6]

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.[7] Myers was also influenced by the comedy troupe Monty Python, with film critic Robbie Collin writing "the Austin Powers series chugs along on Pythonisms."[8]

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.[9] Caine himself starred in Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002), with his portrayal of Nigel Powers, father of Austin Powers, spoofing Harry Palmer.[9]

Cast

[edit]
See also: List of Austin Powers characters
Actor Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me Austin Powers in Goldmember
Mike Myers Austin Powers
Dr. Evil
Fat Bastard
Goldmember
Michael York Basil Exposition
Robert Wagner Number 2
Mindy Sterling Frau Farbissina
Seth Green Scott Evil
Elizabeth Hurley Vanessa Kensington
Will Ferrell Mustafa
Verne Troyer Mini-Me
Heather Graham Felicity Shagwell
Beyoncé Knowles Foxxy Cleopatra
Michael Caine Nigel Powers

Crew

[edit]
Credit Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me Austin Powers in Goldmember
Director Jay Roach
Producers Mike Myers, Demi Moore, Jennifer Todd & Suzanne Todd Mike Myers, Demi Moore, Eric McLeod, Jennifer Todd, John S. Lyons & Suzanne Todd
Writers Mike Myers Mike Myers & Michael McCullers
Composer George S. Clinton
Cinematographer Peter Deming Ueli Steiger Peter Deming
Editors Dawn Hoggatt & Debra Neil-Fisher Jon Poll & Debra Neil-Fisher Jon Poll & Greg Hayden
Production company Eric's Boy
Moving Pictures
Capella International 		Eric's Boy
Team Todd
Moving Pictures 		Team Todd
Moving Pictures
Gratitude International
Distributor New Line Cinema

Cars

[edit]
Powers' "Shaguar"

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".

Reception

[edit]
See also: List of accolades received by the Austin Powers film series

Box office performance

[edit]
Film Release date Box office revenue Box office ranking Budget Ref.
United States Foreign Worldwide All time domestic All time worldwide
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery May 2, 1997 $53,883,989 $13,800,000 $67,683,989 #1,171 $16.5-18 million [10] [11]
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me June 11, 1999 $206,040,086 $105,976,772 $312,016,858 #119 and #152[a] #257 $33 million [12]
Austin Powers in Goldmember July 26, 2002 $213,307,889 $83,347,542 $296,655,431 #110 and #188[a] #283 $63 million [13]
Total $473,231,964 $203,124,314 $676,356,278 $112.5 million [14]

Critical response

[edit]
Film Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic CinemaScore[15]
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery 74% (68 reviews)[16] 51 (25 reviews)[17] B-
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me 53% (90 reviews)[18] 59 (34 reviews)[19] B+
Austin Powers in Goldmember 52% (186 reviews)[20] 62 (34 reviews)[21] B+

Media

[edit]

Films

[edit]

The series consists of three films:

Television

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

Games

[edit]

Video games

[edit]

Other

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Cancelled animated series

[edit]

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.[23][24][25]

Possible fourth film

[edit]

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."[26]

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".[27] 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.[28]

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.[29] 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.[30]

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.[31] 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."[32] 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."[33]

In March 2010, Jay Roach indicated to MTV that Myers is working on ideas for a fourth film.[34][35] In August 2011, Mike Myers revealed he would return, and had begun writing a script for a fourth installment.[36] In September 2013, when asked about the future of Austin Powers, Myers answered "I'm still figuring that out."[37] In September 2015, Verne Troyer expressed his desire to return as Mini-Me if he was asked to do so.[38]

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.[39] 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.[40]

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".[41] Two days later, Roach stated that a fourth film would only occur if Myers creates a good story for it.[42] In May 2017, Troyer stated that Mini-Me would reveal that he can speak in the fourth movie.[43] 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.[44] 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.[45] Roach claimed in an interview that a fourth Austin Powers film may not be possible without Troyer.[46]

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.[47] 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.[48]

In January 2020, Jay Roach again indicated that he was interested in doing a fourth film.[49] 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.[50]

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.[51]

As of 2024, Austin Powers 4 has yet to be produced due to both promotional sensibilities and casting difficulties.[51]

Social concerns

[edit]

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.[52] Nell Minow of Common Sense Media expressed concern about the films exposing minors to explicit sexual content.[53] In Malaysia, the films were regarded to be almost pornographic; The Spy Who Shagged Me was banned from being screened[54] while Goldmember was released with the 18SX-rating.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Adjusted totals based on current[when?] ticket prices by Box Office Mojo.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Why the Cinema of Swinging London Matters, 50 Years Later". Vanity Fair. February 5, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  2. ^ "Yeah, baby! Myers says Austin Powers 4 is looking good". RTE. Retrieved November 2, 2018
  3. ^ Thomlison, Adam (January 8, 2022). "Hollywood Q&A". Winston-Salem Journal. p. 32 – via TV Media.
  4. ^ Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007. Passion Pictures / Red Box Films. January 5, 2014.
  5. ^ a b John Storey (2010). "Culture and Power in Cultural Studies: The Politics of Signification". p. 60. Edinburgh University Press
  6. ^ Jenkin, David (February 2, 2017). "Dentally challenged – the art of creating false teeth for the movies". Little White Lies. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  7. ^ Higgs, John (2015). Stranger Than We Can Imagine: Making Sense of the Twentieth Century. Soft Skull Press. ISBN 9781619026803.
  8. ^ Collin, Robbie (November 21, 2013). "Monty Python reunion: no one else has the nerve to do what Python do". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on January 11, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
  9. ^ a b "Michael Caine: Austin Powers in Goldmember". BBC. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  10. ^ "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
  11. ^ "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) - Financial Information". The Numbers.
  12. ^ "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
  13. ^ "Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
  14. ^ "Austin Powers series". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  15. ^ "CinemaScore". CinemaScore. Archived from the original on April 13, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022. [better source needed]
  16. ^ "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  17. ^ "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery". Metacritic. CNET Networks, Inc. September 17, 2012.
  18. ^ "Austin Powers: the Spy Who Shagged Me". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  19. ^ "Austin Powers: the Spy Who Shagged Me". Metacritic. CNET Networks, Inc. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
  20. ^ "Austin Powers in Goldmember". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  21. ^ "Austin Powers in Goldmember". Metacritic. CNET Networks, Inc. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
  22. ^ I. G. N. Staff (October 30, 2000). "They've Stolen Dreamcast's Mojo!". IGN.
  23. ^ Kaplan, Don (May 4, 1999). "YEAH, BABY! HBO SINKS TEETH INTO 'AUSTIN POWERS' CARTOON". New York Post. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  24. ^ Seiler, Andy (June 21, 1999). "The spy who won't go away HBO will animate 'Austin Powers,' and a third movie is expected". USA Today. Archived from the original on April 19, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
  25. ^ Ressner, Jeffrey (June 21, 1999). "Cinema: Austin's Power". Time. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
  26. ^ "Mike Myers may return to Austin Powers". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 6, 2010. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  27. ^ "IGN: Interview: Mike Myers and Antonio Banderas". IGN. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  28. ^ "'Austin Powers' needs to kill off Fat Bastard". TODAY.com. August 15, 2011.
  29. ^ Adler, Shawn (May 8, 2007). "Mike Myers Revives Dr. Evil, Plus Kirsten Dunst, 'High School Musical' & More, In Movie File". MTV. Archived from the original on May 13, 2007. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  30. ^ Orange, B. Alan (April 14, 2008). "Is Gisele Bundchen the Next 'Austin Powers' Girl?". Movieweb.com. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  31. ^ "Sorry Giselle But 'Austin Powers 4' Still Isn't Happening, Says Seth Green". MTV. Archived from the original on June 30, 2017.
  32. ^ "Mike Myers on Love Guru, Shrek 4, Austin 4 and Wayne's World". Latino Review. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  33. ^ "Mike Myers is Writing Austin Powers 4". Slashfilm. July 30, 2008. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  34. ^ "Fourth 'Austin Powers' Movie Will Go 'Somewhere You Haven't Though Of,' Jay Roach Says". MTV. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
  35. ^ "Mike Myers Revives Dr. Evil". MTV. Archived from the original on May 13, 2007. Retrieved May 9, 2007.
  36. ^ "Exclusive: Mike Myers is signed, sealed, delivered for 'Austin Powers 4'". Hitfix. Retrieved April 26, 2015.[permanent dead link‍]
  37. ^ "Toronto: Fleming Q&A's Mike Myers On 'Supermensch' Directorial Debut". Deadline Hollywood. September 6, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  38. ^ "Verne Troyer waiting for the call for Austin Powers 4". September 23, 2015.
  39. ^ "Austin Powers 4 could still happen, according to director Jay Roach - NME". NME. May 20, 2016.
  40. ^ The Canadian Press (August 25, 2016). "Mike Myers talks 'Wayne's World,' the Leafs, 'Austin Powers'". The Chronicle Herald. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  41. ^ "Austin Powers 4: 'I would love to do another' Mike Meyers says as original turns 20". The Independent. April 28, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  42. ^ "Jay Roach On Why There's No "Austin Powers 4" - Dark Horizons". www.darkhorizons.com. April 30, 2017.
  43. ^ "Verne Troyer teases Austin Powers 4: Mini Me will speak!". May 26, 2017. Archived from the original on November 27, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  44. ^ Sharf, Zack (April 5, 2018). "Mike Myers Returns as Dr. Evil to Mock Donald Trump Jr.: 'He Looks Like He's Missing a Facial Feature' — Watch". IndieWire. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  45. ^ "Austin Powers Star Verne Troyer Dies at 49". People. April 21, 2018.
  46. ^ Sharf, Zack (July 30, 2019). "'Austin Powers' Director Says Fourth Movie Would've Gone Deep on Verne Troyer's Mini-Me". IndieWire. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  47. ^ "New Austin Powers film is a 'very strong maybe', says Mike Myers". Sky News. May 9, 2018.
  48. ^ "Mike Myers says 'Austin Powers 4' is 'looking good'". NME. November 1, 2018.
  49. ^ Hammond, Pete (January 4, 2020). "'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 January 6, 2020.
  50. ^ Lowe, Lindsay (February 10, 2022). "Mike Myers says he'd 'love' to do another 'Austin Powers' movie". The Today Show. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  51. ^ a b Parker, Ashley Joy (October 8, 2022). "Would Mike Myers Do Another Austin Powers Movie? He Says..." E! News. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  52. ^ Chen, David (November 8, 2010). "Why the MPAA Should Be Ashamed of Itself". slashfilm.com. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  53. ^ "Raunchy Austin Powers sequel full of sex and bathroom humor". Common Sense Media.
  54. ^ "Malaysia bans Austin Powers". BBC News. July 12, 1999. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
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