Ariana Grande joins Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro in Meet the Parents 4 after Wicked success, with original cast returning for 2026 release.
Ariana Grande is stepping into another major movie role—this time, in a beloved comedy franchise. Following the success of Wicked: Part One, the pop star and actress will join Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro in the upcoming Meet the Parents 4.
The film marks the fourth installment in the hit franchise and is set to hit theaters on November 25, 2026. PEOPLE confirms that Blythe Danner and Teri Polo will also return, reuniting much of the original cast for what will serve as a sequel to the 2010 film Little Fockers.
While plot details are being kept under wraps and the film remains officially untitled, the Meet the Parents series is known for its hilarious—and often awkward—interactions between Ben Stiller’s well-meaning Greg Focker and Robert De Niro’s stern ex-CIA agent Jack Byrnes. With Ariana Grande entering the mix, fans can expect a fresh dynamic and likely even more comedic chaos.
John Hamburg, the screenwriter behind Meet the Parents, Meet the Fockers, and Little Fockers, will return to write the script for this new chapter.
Behind the scenes, Robert De Niro will once again produce through Tribeca Productions, alongside his Tribeca Festival cofounder Jane Rosenthal. For the first time in the franchise, Ben Stiller will also serve as a producer, through his company Red Hour Films.
The original Meet the Parents debuted in 2000 and starred Ben Stiller as Greg Focker, a man hoping to win over his girlfriend Pam’s (played by Polo) strict father Jack (De Niro). The comedy became a massive hit, spawning two sequels: Meet the Fockers in 2004—introducing Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand as Greg’s eccentric parents—and Little Fockers in 2010, which followed Greg and Pam as parents themselves.
Ariana Grande, 31, has been focusing on acting in recent years. In a recent interview, she explained why she isn’t touring in 2025: “Acting is feeling like home right now.” That passion now brings her to a classic comedy lineup alongside legends of the genre.
With filming details still under wraps and fans eager to see how Ariana Grande’s role fits into the Focker family universe, Meet the Parents 4 promises to blend nostalgic laughs with new twists when it arrives just in time for the 2026 holiday season.
