The iconic comedy franchise returns with Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Teri Polo—and new addition Ariana Grande—promising fresh laughs, family chaos, and a script packed with heart and hilarity.
New York, June 9, 2025 — Comedy’s most awkward family reunion is officially happening. Universal Pictures has confirmed that the long-awaited fourth installment of the Meet the Parents franchise is in development, with Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Teri Polo, and Blythe Danner returning alongside pop sensation Ariana Grande in a pivotal new role. The upcoming sequel is set to release on November 25, 2026.
The announcement was made at a 25th anniversary screening of the original Meet the Parents at the Tribeca Festival, followed by a nostalgic Q&A with cast and creators. “The script is really good,” said De Niro, who returns as the ever-intimidating CIA father-in-law Jack Byrnes. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Ben Stiller, who reprises his role as hapless Greg Focker, added that the timing of the story feels right: “I’m now the age Bob was when we shot the first film. My kids are grown, and one of them is about to introduce someone to the family. There’s a full-circle mirror element that makes this sequel really special.”
Jay Roach, who directed the original trilogy and will produce this new chapter, praised writer-director John Hamburg, saying, “It’s always about the predicament. John has crafted a fresh one that will have audiences squirming again in all the right ways.”
Details about the plot are being kept under wraps, but hints from the cast suggest it will revisit classic Meet the Parents themes—approval, awkward misunderstandings, and the high-stakes anxiety of family introductions—with a generational twist.
Grande’s role has not been revealed, but jokes were already flying at Tribeca. “The name of the movie is Wicked 3,” Stiller teased, referencing her upcoming role in Wicked. “And Bob is a wicked singer-dancer,” Polo chimed in. De Niro shot back, “No,” recalling how his attempt at singing “Love is in the Air” was cut from Meet the Fockers. “Jay wasn’t happy with it.”
Despite the 15-year gap since Little Fockers (2010), enthusiasm among cast and fans is strong. “The audience has this history with the characters,” said Roach. “They’re bringing that emotional connection back to the theater, and it’s powerful.”
De Niro revealed he’s been pushing for a new film for years: “Back when we wrapped the last one, I told Ben and John in my trailer, ‘Let’s start writing now!’ They humored me. But finally, here we are.”
Tribeca Productions (Jane Rosenthal and De Niro), Red Hour Films (Stiller and John Lesher), Delirious Media (Jay Roach), and Particular Pictures (John Hamburg) are producing the film.
And while the cast hadn’t watched the original film in years, revisiting it brought back waves of emotion and laughter. “I forgot how stinking funny you are, Ben,” said Polo. “And Bob, just how straight you were. Brilliant.”
Stiller summed it up best: “To hear people still laughing 25 years later—there’s nothing more rewarding than that.”