Re-Member Me

After summary dismemberment by the disgruntled folks at MGM and United Artists, the third Austin Powers film may finally have its unmentionables restored as last-minute negotiations are undertaken to save the film's title. Austin Powers in Goldmember was shot down earlier this year, deemed to be cashing in on the Bond franchise without permission. However, in a bid to avoid the awfully bland Austin Powers 3, New Line is making a number of concessions to see the controversial Member restored. Final approval has yet to be given but it looks like a light wrist-slapping and the mandatory inclusion of Die Another Day and other MGM trailers on both the Austin Powers films and The Fellowship of The Ring will see all parties satisfied. And just so no cheeky monkey can shirk this fiendish punishment, the trailers will be spliced onto the prints themselves rather than included on a separate reels, which could be surreptitiously set aside. Mike Myers and the rest of the Austin Powers crew will doubtless be relieved if all goes well but that's not to say they've been sitting idle while their title has been up in the air. Mooted alternatives included Live and Let Shag, You Only Shag Thrice and License to Shag. Though, we at Empire Online feel the world will be all the poorer for New Line's decision not to use the brilliant Never Say Member Again