Austin Powers 4 Confirmed
Mike Myers Confirms Austin Powers 4 is in the Works, Prompting Sequel Excitement
Key Points
Franchise director Jay Roach said any Austin Powers 4 would need to “top” past set pieces, specifically pointing to earlier films’ “Beyoncé and Michael Caine” elements and “the Dr. Evil submarine on the last one,” adding that they “can’t just come back and just do it to do it.”
The Verizon campaign also features Myers’ “recurring tradition” of bringing back Dr. Evil in advertising; prior to this, he reunited with Seth Green, Rob Lowe, and Mindy Sterling for a 2022 General Motors ad that also included the character.
Verizon’s broader marketing push included a parallel commercial featuring the cast of Yo Soy Betty, la Fea, running alongside the Dr. Evil/Simplicity Plan spot even though the ads targeted different audiences.
In the ad, Dr. Evil’s “Menace Mobile” pitch is framed as having “the most confusing pricing plans of all time,” before Scott Evil, Number Two, and Frau Farbissina reveal they’ve switched to Verizon’s “Simplicity Plan.”
Mike Myers has confirmed that Austin Powers 4 is in development. Asked directly by a fan during Trevor Noah's World Cup Watch Party on June 16, 2026, Myers gave a one-word answer: "Yes." Noah expressed visible surprise, saying "Wow, that was a quick yes!" according to Washington Times.
The confirmation comes 24 years after the last film, 2002's Austin Powers in Goldmember, and just hours after Verizon launched a new Dr. Evil reunion commercial. The original trilogy earned $676.3 million globally, according to CBR.
Myers Breaks 24-Year Silence With One Word
Myers has dodged sequel questions for years. As recently as May 2022, he told SiriusXM he could "neither confirm nor deny" a fourth film, according to CBR. That changed on June 16, when a fan at Trevor Noah's World Cup Watch Party asked directly — and Myers simply said yes.
Myers has previously said any sequel should put more focus on Dr. Evil. He has three children born in six years, which slowed any franchise plans. The 2018 death of Verne Troyer, who played Mini-Me, also cast a shadow over a potential return, according to 1079vgs.com.
Verizon's Dr. Evil Ad Served as a Franchise Dry Run
On the same morning as Myers' confirmation, Verizon launched a new commercial starring Myers as Dr. Evil. Co-stars Seth Green (Scott Evil), Rob Lowe (Number Two), and Mindy Sterling (Frau Farbissina) all returned. In the ad, Dr. Evil pitches "Menace Mobile" — a plan with "the most confusing pricing plans of all time" — before his own crew switches to Verizon's "Simplicity Plan," according to CBR.
The Simplicity Plan eliminates $40 activation and $40 upgrade fees, with a flat rate of $45 per line. Verizon CMO Leslie Berland called the campaign a "bold" use of nostalgia to remove "industry complexity." Industry analysts called the commercial a "high-effort dry run" proving the characters still connect with audiences.
Director Roach Warns the Film Must Top Past Spectacles
Jay Roach directed all three original films and also directed the new Verizon spot. In August 2025, while promoting The Roses, Roach said a fourth film depends on Myers finding the "right hook." He said they "can't just come back and just do it to do it," according to Washington Times.
Roach pointed to specific past highlights that any new film would need to match — the "Beyoncé and Michael Caine" elements from earlier entries and "the Dr. Evil submarine on the last one." He said the bar is high. Still, Roach has maintained he is "always game" for whatever Myers wants to do.
Legacy Sequel or Nostalgia Trap? Hollywood Watches Closely
The confirmation lands during a Hollywood wave of legacy sequels. Films like Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Beetlejuice 2 have shown that franchise revivals can target $100 million-plus domestic openings when they reach multiple generations. Analysts say Austin Powers has the multi-generational reach to compete, according to 1077thebounce.com.
But not everyone is optimistic. Some critics warn of the "Zoolander 2 effect" — a comedy sequel that arrived too late to recapture the original's tone. Others argue the viral success of the Verizon spot shows the characters have become "iconic archetypes" that go beyond their era. Whether the film heads to theaters or a streaming platform like Netflix remains unclear.
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