Ariana Grande‘s acting era isn’t over just yet. On Friday, May 30, it was announced that the “Yes, And?” singer will be starring in a Meet the Parents sequel with Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro. The film will officially mark the fourth installment in the beloved comedy franchise, which began nearly three decades ago.
When Will Ariana Grande’s Meet the Parents Sequel Be Released?
According to Deadline, Ariana Grande’s sequel to “Meet the Parents” is set to be released on Wednesday, November 25, 2026. While movies typically hit theaters on Fridays to reel in viewers over the weekend, it seems Universal Pictures is taking a different approach for Meet the Parents 4. Since Thanksgiving falls on that Thursday, it’s likely the company is hoping to attract a bigger audience throughout the week due to the holiday.
Apart from its release date, other details surrounding the film are being kept underwraps for now. There is no information about which character Ariana Grande will play. It’s possible she might portray a member of the Byrnes or Focker family. She’ll star alongside Ben Stiller as Greg Focker and Robert De Niro as Jack Byrnes. Other returning cast members include Teri Polo as Pam Byrnes and Blythe Danner as Dina Byrnes.
John Hamburg will direct the latest sequel and pen its script after co-writing the franchise’s first three movies. He wrote 2000’s Meet the Parents and 2004’s Meet the Fockers with Jim Herzfeld. Meanwhile, he collaborated with Larry Stuckey for 2010’s Little Fockers.
Fans React to Her Casting
Ariana Grande’s casting comes amid her return to acting. Although she spent most of her early career acting in various theater projects and TV series on Nickelodeon, she put that part of her life on pause once her music gained widespread popularity in the 2010s. It wasn’t until recently that Grande decided to come back to acting with Wicked. The first movie hit theaters in November 2024, while its sequel, Wicked: For Good, will release this November.
Grande’s portrayal as Glinda has helped her earn nominations for Best Supporting Actress at this year’s Academy Awards, BAFTA Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Since she has received so much critical acclaim for Wicked, fans were unsure whether she would return to music or continue acting. Now, it seems they’ve gotten their answer with the news of her latest project. They couldn’t be more excited to see Ariana Grande show off her comedy chops again. One fan claimed the Meet the Parents sequel is “already movie of the year” with her addition to the cast. Meanwhile, another fan said they would be there for the film’s “opening night.”
She’s meant for the big screen, with so many anticipating her next acting role.
