Here’s one way to make yourself more popular. Academy Award nominee and pop music icon Ariana Grande has just joined the cast of the long-awaited Meet the Parents 4 — actual title still to be worked on — joining its core stars Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro in the latest adventures of Gaylord “Greg” Focker and hus psychotic father-in-law, Jack Byrnes. Following the record-breaking success of Wicked: Part One, Deadline is reporting that Grande and Universal were eager to collaborate again. Enter the fourth Meet the Parents movie, which already boasts one of the most recognizable comedy IPs of the 21st century. Plot details are still locked up tighter than Jack’s CIA files, and it’s unclear who Grande will play — but insiders say both the studio and the star are “very excited” about her role.
John Hamburg, who co-wrote all three previous entries, will return as both writer and director for this one, while the core four — not that core four, horror fans — of Stiller, De Niro, Teri Polo and Blythe Danner are all confirmed to return. Speculation now begins as to whether we’ll see the return of Owen Wilson‘s Kevin and his immaculate craftsmanship, or indeed, Mr Jinx, who may not even be alive any more. Pour one out, if that is indeed the case. Stiller will produce with John Lesher via their Red Hour Films banner.
Why Has Ariana Grande Chosen ‘Meet the Parents 4’?
Grande’s casting is a major get for the film and a sign that Universal is going big for this sequel. Her turn in Wicked didn’t just earn rave reviews — it landed her Academy Award, Golden Globe, SAG, and BAFTA nominations for Best Supporting Actress. Wicked went on to become the most successful Broadway-to-film adaptation of all time, grossing nearly $800 million worldwide and taking home Oscars for Costume Design and Production Design. No surprise, then, that Grande was courted for multiple high-profile projects. Ultimately, her longtime relationship with Universal and the unique tone of the Meet the Parents franchise brought her back to the lot for what could be one of the studio’s biggest comedy swings in years.
The original Meet the Parents premiered in 2000 and went on to gross over $330 million globally. Its sequels — Meet the Fockers (2004) and Little Fockers (2010) — helped push the franchise’s total box office haul to a staggering $1.13 billion worldwide.
Meet the Parents 4 is dated for November 25, 2026, putting it right in the sweet spot for holiday family chaos — which seems appropriate for the Fockers and Byrneses.
via Collider