Ariana Grande is expanding her acting portfolio with a leading role in Meet the Parents 4, joining comedy veterans Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro in the long-awaited sequel. According to The Hollywood Reporter (THR), the multi-talented singer and actress will star in the film, which Universal has slated for release on November 25, 2026—marking a nostalgic return for the beloved franchise.
Grande, who recently made a successful transition into film with her role in the Wicked adaptations, will portray the fiancée of Stiller’s character’s son. THR reports that this new installment will explore comedic tension as the young couple’s engagement introduces friction within the Focker and Byrnes families. As expected, chaos and hilarity are sure to follow when personalities clash and misunderstandings arise.
Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro are both confirmed to reprise their iconic roles as Greg Focker and Jack Byrnes, respectively. Blythe Danner and Teri Polo are also expected to return, though final negotiations are still underway. Plot details remain largely under wraps, but fans can anticipate the same brand of humor that made the original trilogy a cultural staple.
Behind the camera, franchise veteran John Hamburg is set to write and direct Meet the Parents 4. Jay Roach, director of the first three films, will serve as a producer, alongside Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal via Tribeca Productions. Stiller will also produce through his Red Hour Films banner, alongside John Lesher, while Hamburg will produce under Particular Pictures. Universal’s Matt Reilly and Jacqueline Garell will oversee the project for the studio.
Ariana Grande – Image Credit: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
While Grande remains best known for her music career—including seven acclaimed studio albums—the past few years have seen her make a strong case for herself as a rising film star. Her standout performance in Wicked (2024) earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, and she is set to reprise her role as Glinda in the highly anticipated sequel, Wicked: For Good, scheduled for release on November 21, 2025.
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For more updates on upcoming films, check out our list of the biggest movies arriving in [ttpp]. You can also revisit our original review of Meet the Parents, where we awarded the film an impressive 8/10 at its premiere in 2000.
