Meet the Parents 4: Ariana Grande Joins Cast with Stiller and De Niro

New Addition to Iconic Comedy Franchise

Ariana Grande has been officially added to the cast of Meet the Parents 4, the latest film in the long-running comedy series. She will star alongside returning leads Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro. Universal Pictures, which produced the previous films, is set to release the fourth installment in 2026. The project continues the story that began with the original 2000 film, which became a global box office hit and earned over $330 million.

The upcoming sequel is written by John Hamburg, who also co-wrote the earlier entries in the series. Jay Roach, who directed the original Meet the Parents, returns this time in a producing role. The film is scheduled for global theatrical release on November 25, 2026.

A Recap of the Focker Family Journey

The franchise began with the introduction of Gaylord “Greg” Focker, a nurse portrayed by Ben Stiller, who attempts to earn the trust of his girlfriend Pam’s father, Jack Byrnes, a former CIA agent played by Robert De Niro. The first film focused on the escalating awkwardness of Greg’s visit to meet Pam’s parents for the first time, sparking a series of comedic conflicts.

The 2004 sequel, Meet the Fockers, expanded the family dynamic by bringing in Greg’s own parents, portrayed by Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand. Their unconventional personalities clashed with the Byrnes family’s more rigid structure, producing further comedic situations.

In Little Fockers, released in 2010, the story progressed to explore family tensions during the preparations for Greg and Pam’s son’s fifth birthday celebration. Both sides of the extended family reunited, leading to another series of humorous misunderstandings and mishaps.

New Chapter in the Family Saga

While the full plot details of Meet the Parents 4 remain undisclosed, early reports suggest the focus will shift to the next generation. Greg’s son, now grown, will reportedly be at the center of the story, navigating a new relationship. Ariana Grande is expected to portray his girlfriend, bringing a fresh dynamic to the well-known family comedy formula.

The cast is anticipated to include many of the familiar faces from previous installments, maintaining continuity while introducing new characters. As with past films, the fourth movie is expected to blend character-driven humor with family-centric themes, appealing to both long-time fans and new audiences.

Over the course of its three films, the Meet the Parents series has generated over $1.3 billion in worldwide box office revenue, cementing its place as one of the most successful comedy franchises in modern cinema. With the addition of Grande and the return of the original stars, Universal aims to extend that success into a new decade.