Ariana Grande expands her acting portfolio with a lead role in Meet the Parents 4, joining Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro in the beloved comedy franchise.
The Hollywood Reporter reveals that the multi-talented artist - fresh off her critically acclaimed performance in Wicked - will appear in the upcoming installment. Universal Pictures has slated the Focker family reunion for November 25, 2026.
Stiller and De Niro return for their fourth onscreen clash as contentious in-laws. While Blythe Danner and Teri Polo are expected to reprise their roles from previous films, their participation remains under negotiation. Industry insiders reveal the plot will focus on Polo and Stiller's character being shocked when their son becomes engaged to an unconventional woman - a role that will be portrayed by Grande.
The production reunites key creative talents from the original trilogy. John Hamburg returns as writer and director, while Jay Roach shifts from the director's chair to a producer role alongside Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal's Tribeca Productions. Ben Stiller co-produces through Red Hour Films, with Hamburg's Particular Pictures also involved. Universal executives Matt Reilly and Jacqueline Garell will oversee the project.
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While Grande dominates the music charts with seven acclaimed albums - including this year's Eternal Sunshine - her transition to acting has proven equally impressive. Her performance in last year's Wicked adaptation earned widespread praise and an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Fans can next see her reprise the role of Glinda in Wicked: For Good, scheduled for November 21, 2025.
For more entertainment updates, explore our guide to 2025's most anticipated films. Revisit our original 8/10 review of Meet the Parents from its 2000 premiere for insights into the franchise's beginnings.
