Get Ready to Meet the Parents Again: Fourth Film in Beloved Comedy Series Officially Happening with Core Cast Returning, Plus Ariana Grande
Fans of the perpetually awkward Greg Focker and the intimidating Byrnes family have reason to cheer! More than a decade after the last installment, a **fourth film in the popular *Meet the Parents* comedy franchise is officially in development** at Universal Pictures.
Crucially, **key members of the original cast are set to reprise their roles**, promising a return to the beloved, albeit chaotic, family dynamic. **Ben Stiller** will once again portray the well-meaning but disaster-prone male nurse, Greg Focker. **Robert De Niro** is back as the stern, suspicious former CIA operative, Jack Byrnes, whose approval Greg has always desperately sought. **Teri Polo** is also confirmed to return as Pam Focker, Greg’s wife and Jack’s daughter.
Adding to the excitement, **fan-favorite Owen Wilson is confirmed to be reprising his role** as Kevin Rawley, Pam’s charming, successful, and slightly too-perfect ex-fiancé. Wilson’s character, known for his scene-stealing appearances and seemingly effortless perfection (including impressive carpentry skills), popped up in all three previous films and was often a source of comedic tension for Greg.
The new movie isn’t just bringing back familiar faces; it’s also introducing a major new character. Grammy-winning musician and actress **Ariana Grande is set to join the cast** in a significant role.
Behind the camera, the creative team behind the original trilogy is also making a comeback. **John Hamburg, who co-wrote *Meet the Parents* (2000), *Meet the Fockers* (2004), and *Little Fockers* (2010), has penned the screenplay for the new feature and is set to direct**. This move ensures a level of continuity and understanding of the series’ unique comedic tone. Hamburg recently directed Owen Wilson in the final episodes of the Apple TV+ series *Stick*.
While specific plot details are largely being kept under wraps, one intriguing storyline has been revealed. The new film will reportedly **center around the son of Greg and Pam Focker, who becomes engaged to a woman played by Ariana Grande**. This character is described as having a strong, potentially challenging personality, suggesting she might shake up the established family order and provide plenty of material for Greg and Jack’s comedic clashes.
Universal Pictures will oversee production and domestic distribution, with Paramount Pictures joining as a co-producer and handling international distribution. The film already has a target release date, set for **November 25, 2026**.
The original *Meet the Parents* film introduced audiences to Greg’s desperate attempts to impress Pam’s formidable father. The sequels expanded the comedic universe, bringing in Greg’s own eccentric parents (played by Dustin Hoffman and Barbara Streisand in *Meet the Fockers*) and later introducing children in *Little Fockers*.
Owen Wilson’s return to the big screen in this beloved role follows recent projects like the film *Haunted Mansion* and his reprisal of the character Mobius in the second season of Disney+’s *Loki*.
With the core cast returning, a veteran series writer/director at the helm, and a high-profile new addition in Ariana Grande, the next meeting with the Byrnes and Fockers promises more awkward encounters, hilarious misunderstandings, and familial chaos that fans have come to love. Get ready for Thanksgiving 2026!
