Happy 20th to the randiest spy the world has ever seen—Austin Powers, baby.
This Tuesday, May 2, will mark the 20th anniversary of the release of Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, the first installment in the three-movie franchise starring Mike Myers. The two films released following that blockbuster were Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and Austin Powers: Goldmember. To commemorate the occasion The Hollywood Reporter published a definitive oral history of the film series from its inception to its success as a nearly half billion dollar franchise.
The article featured interviews from Myers, director Jay Roach and other stars including Robert Wagner, Elizabeth Hurley, Seth Green and Mindy Sterling. The article revealed that Myers wrote the film in the wake of his father's death in 1991.
"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," Myers said.
The story also detailed the making of the films and behind the scenes tidbits such as how a nude blocking scene and a shot of Elizabeth Hurley biting a sausage nearly earned the film an R rating. "But they were all pretty innocent body-shape jokes," Jay Roach said. "The only thing they asked us to do in the final cut, which was kind of surprising to me, was they thought there was too much butt-cheek on Mike when he got thawed out, so I went for a slightly more profile version.
Myers and Roach both revealed they were open to bringing Austin Powers back for a fourth film.
"Until Mike feels like he has a concept that earns a fourth, it won't happen. But if it did, we have all agreed that we would be delighted to get back into it," Roach said.
All Myers had to say was, "I would love to do another, but you just have to see."
2017 has been a year of movie milestones for Mike Myers. In February, his cult classic film Wayne's World, which he co-starred in with fellow comedian Dana Carvey celebrated its 25th anniversary.