June 8, 2025: It’s been 25 years since we first met Greg Focker — and the awkwardness hasn’t aged a day. Stars Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Teri Polo, and director Jay Roach reunited at the Tribeca Festival in Manhattan to celebrate the iconic comedy Meet the Parents and confirm that a fourth installment is officially in development.
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The cast reflected on the enduring popularity of the 2000 comedy during a Q&A following a special anniversary screening. “It’s so much fun to hear laughter in a theater with comedy that’s 25 years old,” Stiller said. “It still works.”
Though Stiller has starred in numerous films since, he admitted the role of Greg Focker still follows him. “When someone yells ‘Focker!’ on the street, it doesn’t necessarily feel respectful,” he joked, adding, “Whenever I’m treated by a male nurse, I feel a connection.”
Director Jay Roach revealed that Meet the Parents almost had an entirely different cast and crew. Steven Spielberg was initially attached to direct, with Jim Carrey eyed for the lead role. “Jim Carrey was going to be me?” Stiller exclaimed. “Shit. I totally forgot that part.”
Teri Polo, who played Greg’s fiancée Pam, recalled being cast just days before filming began. She also shared a key piece of acting advice from De Niro: “He said, ‘It’s the same thing, whether it’s comedy or drama — say the line with honesty.’”
The Meet the Parents trilogy has grossed nearly $1 billion worldwide, with sequels Meet the Fockers (2004) and Little Fockers (2010) cementing its legacy.
But the real surprise of the evening? A fourth film is officially on the way, with Ariana Grande reportedly joining the cast. While plot details are under wraps, Stiller hinted that the story will mirror the original’s generational tension.
“I’m now the age Bob [De Niro] was when we did the first movie,” Stiller said. “It felt like a mirror—one of my kids wants to introduce their partner to the family.”
De Niro confirmed he’s read the script and is excited: “The script is really fun. I’ve actually been pushing for this for years.”
With a fresh perspective and new faces, it looks like the Focker family isn’t finished with us yet.