The rumour mill for a fourth Austin Powers outing has been in overdrive for years now, but director Jay Roach has revealed all hope is not lost just yet.
Roach, speaking to The Independent, gave an update on where Mike Myers is at with the possible project – and said he’ll sign on whenever he gets the call.
“We’ve been trying to think up an idea that could earn a fourth film for a long time, but it’s always up to Mike,” he said. “He and I always thought there was more to do with Dr Evil.”
Roach did level that the one obstacle they’d have to overcome is the loss of Verne Troyer, who died by suicide in April 2018. He starred in The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) and Goldmember (2002) as Mini-Me.
“To be honest, I don’t know how we’d do it without Verne,” Roach said. “We always had ideas of revealing a whole life that he had that would have taken his character much further.”
He continued: “If Mike cracks it and figures it out, we would definitely do some kind of tribute to him. I’m there if he ever wants to do it.”
Now, it’s been known for some time that Myers and co-writer Michael McCullers had ideas for Dr Evil – myers even reprised the role for a guest appearance on Jimmy Fallon last year, so he’s clearly not done with the character. But the fact that they had wider plans for Mini-Me is new.
Roach’s next film is the Roger Ailes film about Fox News, which stars Charlize Theron as Megyn Kelly.
You can read our 20th anniversary celebration of The Spy Who Shagged Mehere.
