Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)

"Mr. Roboto is a new kind of Level B villain," describes Jay Roach. "He’s very ambitious and comes up with the mechanics of the evil schemes. Basically he’s a shrewd entrepreneur."

Portraying Mr. Roboto is Nobu Matsuhisa, the renowned chef and proprietor of several prominent restaurants bearing his name across the globe. "We cast Nobu because he’s Japanese and if it was 8 o’clock on Saturday night and we wanted to go to Matsuhisa, which is always packed, we’d still be able to get a table," jokes Myers. "We’re not idiots. It’s the best food on the planet."

In reality Matsuhisa auditioned like every other actor. Prior to earning his part in Austin Powers in Goldmember, he made a brief appearance in Martin Scorsese’s Casino after Robert De Niro convinced him to play hooky from his day job and give acting a try.

"I was joking with Mike Myers one night when he was having dinner," Matsuhisa says. "I said, ‘Why don’t you use me in your movies?’ I’d completely forgotten about my joke until the producer called me a few months later, so I went and auditioned a couple of times. I’m familiar with the western caricature of a Japanese businessman, so I did that. It was a bit difficult, but I just tried my best. I appreciate the chance Mike has given me. Working as an actor was a great challenge. Maybe on the next movie I’ll just handle the catering," he jokes.

Fans will certainly recognize returning cast members Verne Troyer (Mini Me,) Seth Green (Scott Evil,) Robert Wagner (Number Two) and Mindy Sterling (Frau Farbissina) who comprise the executive branch of Dr. Evil’s empire, as well as Austin’s boss, Michael York (Basil Exposition). For director Jay Roach these recurring characters remain a comfortable foundation from which Myers and he can build and experiment with outlandish story lines.

"We hope Scott, Frau, Mini Me, Number Two, Basil and even Fat Bastard, are welcomed back as if they’re family or a good friend," Roach says. "We want audiences to feel there’s something they can rely on in the world of Austin Powers, but like any good variety show, some unimaginable things have to happen and new faces have to surface that add an element of surprise."

"It’s like a rock band doing a concert on their latest tour," elaborates Roach. "The band has to play some of their greatest hits because the audience comes expecting to hear familiar tunes, and hopefully the songs are going to sound better than ever. But they are also coming to hear a couple of totally new pieces, which makes the experience rare and unique."

The filmmakers decided to shake things up, breaking the mold of the spy movie by delving further into the personal stories of their characters. If the adage is true that the best comedy originates from what is familiar and real, audiences will surely recognize their own family dynamic played out before them, albeit within a more bizarre set of circumstances.

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