Is Ariana Grande ready to join the chaos in ‘Meet the Parents 4’ with Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro?

Ariana Grande is heading from Oz to the Byrnes family compound.

Fresh off her career-defining Wicked: Part One, the Grammy-winning singer and Oscar-nominated actress has officially joined the cast of the upcoming Meet the Parents 4. Grande also confirmed the news via Instagram, reposting The Hollywood Reporter’s casting update with the caption:

“very thrilled to be joining (meeting) the family !!!!!!! ♡”

While plot details are being kept tightly under wraps, the untitled sequel marks a high-profile return to comedy for the hit franchise, which hasn’t seen a new installment since 2010’s Little Fockers.

According to Deadline, both Universal and Ariana Grande were eager to team up again following the runaway success of Wicked, which earned nearly $800 million at the global box office and multiple award nods, including an Academy Award nomination for Grande herself in the Supporting Actress category. The report noted:

“Both the studio and the star are ‘very excited’ about her role.”

Grande joins original mainstays Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro, reprising their roles as Gaylord “Greg” Focker and ex-CIA father-in-law Jack Byrnes.

Longtime cast members Blythe Danner and Teri Polo are also slated to return, as well as writer-director John Hamburg, who penned the first three films in the series.

With such a tight-lipped production, fans are already speculating about potential returning faces, such as the possibility of Owen Wilson’s comeback as the zen Kevin. Fans also theorize the return of Mr. Jinx, the beloved feline who’s a master of flushing a toilet and fueling family chaos.

Grande’s casting hints that Universal aims to bring fresh energy to one of its most popular comedy franchises. With her star power and the lasting appeal of the Focker-Byrnes family, Meet the Parents 4 could be a big hit this holiday season.

The franchise premiered in 2000 and has since grossed over $1.13 billion worldwide across three films.

Now, with Grande in the mix, the fourth chapter is slated for a theatrical release on November 25, 2026, just in time for a little family dysfunction over Thanksgiving weekend.

Fans react to Ariana Grande’s casting in Meet the Parents 4: “We have a new member of the family”

News of Ariana Grande joining the cast of Meet the Parents 4 has sparked a wave of reactions online, with fans sharing a mix of excitement and concern across social media platforms.

X (Twitter) user @rasalistair welcomed the casting with high expectations, writing:

“another comedic oscar nomination INCOMING”

Others expressed mixed feelings, particularly over what this might mean for Grande’s music career. @SGxTS_abhay posted:

“So we are not getting the next album until 2032 oh Ariana”

@physicallyxweak echoed:

“I have a feeling we won’t be getting music for a while”

Fan @0xKrop chimed in:

“Excellent, we have a new member of the family, this movie is going to be great.”

Meanwhile, online user @shashikumarkr25 shared a hopeful sentiment:

“New generation meets the legends! Ariana Grande’s charm will make this sequel unforgettable”

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