close
close
  • February 11, 2025
World War II film premiere left Hollywood star ‘in tears’ – ‘I was shocked’ | Movies | Entertainment

World War II film premiere left Hollywood star ‘in tears’ – ‘I was shocked’ | Movies | Entertainment

Over the years, some incredibly powerful World War II films have hit theaters.

And it has to be one of the very best Steven Spielberg‘s Saving Private Ryan, starring Tom Hanks and Matt Damon.

At the release of the Oscar-winning classic in 1998, Austin Powers star Mike Myers was present and was emotionally affected by the film.

The Canadian comedian’s parents were British immigrants from Liverpool and both were World War II veterans.

His mother served in the Women’s Royal Air Force and his father in the Royal Engineers.

Speak with VultureMyers recalled: “I went to the premiere of Saving Private Ryan, and Jeffrey Katzenberg comes up to me in the lobby afterward and brings his daughters, who then do the Austin Powers dance sequence. This was after such a tough movie, and I was in tears, because my parents were in World War II, and I was shocked, and then they did the dance, and I thought, ‘Yes, that’s great. (READ A ROOM.)”

As it turns out, this is when Myers was offered Shrek, which wouldn’t hit theaters until 2001. The actor added, “And then he said, ‘Mike, would you ever want to make an animated movie?’ and I say ‘Sure.’ And he says, ‘Well, we have an animated film. It’s called Shrek.’ And I say, ‘Well, that’s the worst title I’ve ever heard in my life.’