File this one in the “Intrigued, yet suspicious” drawer.
Erstwhile comedic force majeure, Mike Myers has gone virtually radio silent since his run of wildly successful films throughout the 90s and into the early 2000s came to an end.
The multi-talented Canadian responsible for classic fare such as So I Married An Axe Murderer, and the Wayne’s World and Austin Powers franchises has been more or less absent from screens ever since 2008’s appallingly bad The Love Guru. In fact, save for a bit part in Inglorious Basterds and a cameo during one of Monty Python‘s run of live reunion shows last year, Myers has kept things extremely low key.
Though things are starting to ramp back up for the now 51-year old; he recently had his first crack at directing, helming the documentary Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon, which so far has earned him at least a chance at the inaugural Razzie Redeemer award.
Now comes the news that Myers could well be gearing up for a meaningful return to the front of the camera. Cable giant HBO has announced that Myers has inked a two-year overall deal with the network, which includes TV exclusivity.
What does that mean exactly? Well, we have no freakin’ idea to be honest. The best bet is that Myers has a few ideas up his sleeve, and the deal with HBO allows him the creative freedom – and the resources – to pursue them as best he sees fit. What is for certain is that whatever Myers comes up with will be seen on HBO. Whether that means original concepts, or going back to the well for the long rumoured Austin Powers 4 remains to be seen.
HBO’s President of Programming Michael Lombardo seems to be pretty psyched on the whole thing.
“Mike Myers is one of the great comedy minds of this or any other era. The opportunity to collaborate with a talent of his stature is tremendously exciting.“
As for Myers himself? He’s keeping things almost caustically low-kew.
“I’m thrilled to be at HBO.“
That’s how you do it. No fuss, no muss.
Photo: Valerie Macon via Getty Images.
via Deadline.
