Mike Myers kept details of a possible fourth “Austin Powers” movie under wraps during an interview Wednesday, joking that he could neither confirm nor deny whether it would include political commentary.
Asked by Variety whether a new film might reflect today’s political climate, Myers said the world had changed, but described Austin’s world as a happier place. He added that he was enjoying working on it.
Myers also said he thinks audiences could use more lighthearted comedy. Speaking at the premiere of “Focker-In-Law,” the latest entry in the “Meet the Parents” series, he said he was glad the movie was coming out and that silly humor was needed.
He said he felt fear had started to lose its hold and that people were ready for more love. Myers clarified that he wasn’t talking about a particular political party or election result. He described himself as a Canadian progressive voter, but said his broader point was that people are tired of fear and want more love.
That could be part of the next “Austin Powers,” he suggested, invoking Burt Bacharach’s song “What the World Needs Now Is Love.” Bacharach’s music featured in the earlier films, and he also appeared in the franchise.
The “Austin Powers” movies parody James Bond films and the wider spy genre. Myers has spoken more openly about politics in recent years, including impersonating Elon Musk on “Saturday Night Live” and criticizing President Donald Trump’s comments about bringing Canada under U.S. control.
In a 2025 interview with The New York Times, Myers said authoritarian politics relies on fear and that satire can help show when political actions are not normal. He made those comments while Musk was involved with the Department of Government Efficiency.
Film critic Christian Toto, host of the “Hollywood in Toto” podcast, said the original three “Austin Powers” films were comedies rather than political movies. He doubted fans were hoping for the character to take part in political demonstrations and said Myers would be unwise to turn the series in that direction.
Toto said Myers seemed to leave open the possibility of political themes while emphasizing that he mainly wanted to make people laugh. Given the earlier films’ largely apolitical approach, Toto said he expected the new one—if it gets made—to follow suit. He added that he hoped it would be funny.
Movies take time to make, Toto noted, so jokes about current political figures or events might feel dated by the time a film reaches theaters. He also questioned whether the script was ready and said an older franchise could be further weighed down by topical references that no longer feel fresh.
Some of Myers’ more recent work has drawn mixed reviews. His 2022 miniseries “The Pentaverate,” which made fun of conspiracy theories about secret societies, was criticized by some reviewers for relying on dated political humor. The comedy site Cracked argued that some of the references felt years out of date and urged the makers of any new “Austin Powers” film to avoid the same problem.
