We Almost Got a Mike Myers Version of 'The Graduate' Instead of 'Wayne's World'

I love Mike Myers. Maybe it has to do with seeing Austin Powers as a kid or just the absolute hilarity that follows him all over the place. When he was a cast member on Saturday Night Live, Myers invented so many classic characters it was hard to keep track of them all.

Recently, he was interviewed for his new Netflix show, The Pentaverate, and told a very funny story about how one of his classic movies never came to be.  

A few years after Myers joined the cast of Saturday Night Live, he was invited to Lorne Michaels' house in the Hamptons. There, Myers said, “He pitched me a movie—he said, ‘I want you to do a remake of The Graduate.'”

Myers was naturally hesitant, even telling Michaels, “I don’t think that’s a good idea."

But Michaels would not drop it. Michaels’ response, according to Myers, was, “I just offered you a fucking movie.”

But Myers replied, “The Graduate doesn’t need to be remade. It’s a perfect film. And a little man should not stand in a great man’s shoes.”

It should have ended there, by Myers leaned into the opportunity to pitch something else, saying he wanted to make Wayne’s World as a film, to which Michaels replied, “Really?” That reply held a lot of subtext. Myers said it translated as, "You fucking idiot.”

I think time has shown Myers made the right call. If someone offers you a project that doesn't feel right, it's okay to say no, or pivot to another opportunity. That's why it's always good to have multiple ideas ready to pitch.

The Pentaverate is streaming now on Netflix.