Difficult to imagine fourth 'Austin Powers' film without Verne: director

"Austin Powers" films director Jay Roach has said a fourth film in the series is brewing for some time but it would be hard to take the franchise forward without 'Mini-Me' actor Verne Troyer.

The actor died by suicide last April at the age of 49.

Troyer starred in the second film "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" (1999) with Mike Myers in the lead and reprised his role in the 2002 sequel, "Austin Powers in Goldmember".

Roach further said he had plans for Troyer's character in potential sequels.

"I don't know how we'd do it without Verne. We always had ideas of revealing a whole life that he had that would have taken his character much further.

"If Mike cracks it and figures it out, we would definitely do some kind of tribute to him. I'm there if he ever wants to do it," Roach told The Independent.

The director also said he in contact with Myers and is good to go whenever he receives a call.

"We've been trying to think up an idea that could earn a fourth film for a long time, but it's always up to Mike. He and I always thought there was more to do with Dr Evil."