Mike Myers confirmed an "Austin Powers 4" is happening, answering a fan question during Trevor Noah's World Cup Watch Party with a straightforward "yes." The comedic actor offered no additional details about the project.
Myers has repeatedly expressed interest in reviving the spy-comedy franchise. The last Austin Powers film, "Austin Powers in Goldmember," arrived in 2002. That's over two decades without a new installment in the series that defined early 2000s comedy. The franchise built its reputation on Myers' rubber-faced physical comedy and his ability to juggle multiple characters, most notably the title character and his nemesis Dr. Evil.
The timing of this confirmation arrives as Myers explores fresh revenue streams. His recent Verizon commercial suggests studios and brands still see commercial value in leveraging the Austin Powers brand. Meanwhile, Myers has remained relatively selective about major projects in recent years, appearing sporadically in television and film after his SNL golden years and the original Powers trilogy.
An Austin Powers revival carries built-in audience recognition but faces the challenge of aging comedy. The franchise thrived on parodies of 1960s spy films and dated sexual humor that could feel antiquated now. However, nostalgia-driven projects have proven commercially viable. "Mean Girls," "Shriek," and other legacy comedies have successfully returned to theaters by blending familiar characters with contemporary sensibilities.
No timeline, budget, or studio details emerged from Myers' brief confirmation. Whether New Line Cinema, which produced the original trilogy, would return remains unclear. The project exists in that nebulous pre-production space where a greenlight exists but specifics remain unannounced.
Myers at 61 could either lean into Austin's aging or reimagine the character for current audiences. The franchise's absurdist humor and parody structure offer flexibility. "Austin Powers 4" represents another example of studios