‘Focker in-Law’— Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro Reunite for ‘Meet the Parents 4’
Ariana Grande, photo by Katia Temkin Ben Stiller Photo by: HEATHER HAZZAN; SHAYAN
The iconic comedy series returns with a new twist— and a new Focker and Ariana Grande joins the cast for the long-awaited sequel.
Just when you thought the Focker family saga had reached its end, Universal Pictures has officially unveiled the title and cast for the fourth film in the Meet the Parents franchise. The upcoming sequel, now officially titled Focker in-Law, reunites Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Blythe Danner, Teri Polo, and Owen Wilson — with global pop star Ariana Grande stepping into the mix for her first major comedy role.
Focker in-Law continues the misadventures of Greg Focker (Stiller), who first captured audiences in 2000’s Meet the Parents, a comedic classic that launched a billion-dollar franchise and delivered one of De Niro’s most beloved comedic performances. The original film, directed by Jay Roach, was a massive hit, grossing over $330 million worldwide and spawning two successful sequels: Meet the Fockers (2004) and Little Fockers (2010), which introduced Greg’s eccentric parents played by Barbra Streisand and Dustin Hoffman.
Now, fifteen years after the last installment, Focker in-Law finds the family facing a new generational twist. According to Ben Stiller, the story mirrors the events of the original film — but with Greg now on the other side of the in-law dynamic. “What spurred the idea is that I’m the age that Bob [De Niro] was when we did the first movie,” Stiller said during a special 25th anniversary screening of Meet the Parents at the Tribeca Festival. “It felt like a mirror to the first film, where one of my kids is thinking about introducing their person to the family.”
Robert De Niro, returning as the ever-watchful Jack Byrnes, has already read the screenplay and teased its comedic potential. “The script is really fun,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it.”
While plot details remain tightly under wraps, the film’s title clearly signals that the Focker family dysfunction is about to take a new shape — and possibly a new generation of awkward family interrogations. With Ariana Grande joining the cast, speculation is high about her role — potentially as the future daughter-in-law navigating the famously chaotic Byrnes-Focker household.
The film will be written and directed by John Hamburg, who penned all three previous installments and returns to steer the franchise into a new comedic chapter. Hamburg’s involvement ensures tonal continuity with the original trilogy while offering the potential for fresh comedic beats and a modern sensibility.
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Set for a wide theatrical release over Thanksgiving weekend, Focker in-Law will open on November 25, 2026 — giving audiences more than a year to prepare for another round of parental scrutiny, cringe-worthy introductions, and painfully funny family rituals.
After a 25-year legacy that helped redefine mainstream studio comedy in the 2000s, Meet the Parents is officially coming full circle — with the Fockers once again at the center of cinematic chaos.
