Ariana Grande Joins Meet the Parents 4

Ariana Grande continues to expand her acting career, securing a leading role in the upcoming fourth installment of the "Meet the Parents" franchise alongside Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro.

According to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, the pop superstar-turned-Wicked actress will join the cast for the new chapter of the popular comedy series. Universal Pictures is currently scheduled to reunite the Focker and Byrnes families on November 25, 2026.

Both Stiller and De Niro have officially signed on to reprise their iconic roles as feuding in-laws for a fourth time. While Blythe Danner and Teri Polo, who starred in the previous three films, are also expected to return, they are reportedly still in final negotiations. Specific plot details are largely under wraps, but sources indicate one narrative thread will focus on the son of Polo and Stiller's characters becoming engaged to a domineering woman considered entirely unsuitable for him. Grande is set to portray this fiancée character.

Behind the camera, "Meet the Parents 4" will be written and directed by franchise veteran John Hamburg. Original director Jay Roach has joined the project as a producer, alongside producing partners Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal of Tribeca Productions. Ben Stiller will produce through his Red Hour Films with John Lesher, while Hamburg will produce via Particular Pictures. Universal executives Matt Reilly and Jacqueline Garell will oversee the project for the studio.

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While Grande is globally recognized for her music career, having released seven acclaimed studio albums, she is quickly making her mark in film. Her latest album, 2024's "Eternal Sunshine," preceded her critically praised supporting role in last fall's "Wicked" adaptation. Her performance as Galinda/Glinda in the musical earned her an Academy Award nomination. She will reprise the role in the sequel, Wicked: For Good, slated for release on November 21, 2025.

For more entertainment updates, explore our comprehensive list of the most anticipated movies arriving in 2025. You can also revisit our original review of the first "Meet the Parents" film, which we rated 8/10 upon its release in 2000.