Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Austin Powers masks are selling out this Halloween because of Baby Driver

The blockbuster's best scene is providing costume inspiration across the globe

Jacob Stolworthy
Thursday 26 October 2017 05:50 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

This Halloween, chances are you'll spot an unlikely face among the inevitable influx of Wonder Woman, Pennywise and Eleven from Stranger Things costumes.

Those looking to disguise themselves as international man of mystery Austin Powers are in for a struggle with all the masks sold out on costume sites and websites Amazon and eBay.

Blame Edgar Wright. In the director's sleeper hit action film Baby Driver - which starred Ansel Elgort as a music-obsessed getaway driver - one scene saw a trio of robbers donning masks of the Mike Myers character during a heist following a comedic blunder having intended to purchase masks of Halloween killer Michael Myers.

Not that Wright cares - he told The Hollywood Reporter: “I'm very proud. I feel like through my career, I have given people some very easy Halloween costumes, like Shaun in Shaun of the Dead.

“I even mentioned to Warner Bros that they may ship a lot of masks at Halloween, and I think that's exactly what's happened.”

The scene was originally meant to see just one character wearing the wrong mask, however, after failing to get clearance in time, the script was tweaked and - thanks to Myers' blessing - the film's funniest scene was born.

“I'm equally proud of my work as the killer in Halloween as I am for my work in Austin Powers,” Myers told THR.

This year marked the 20th anniversary of first Austin Powers film International Man of Mystery. Two sequels followed - The Spy Who Shagged Me and Austin Powers in Goldmember - in 1999 and 2003.

Baby Driver co-starred Lily James, Jamie Foxx, Jon Hamm and Kevin Spacey.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in