Grammy award-winning pop star Ariana Grande has been making quite a name for herself in the film world these days. After her role as Glinda in the wildly popular musical Wicked earned her high praise (as well as an Oscar nomination), the multi-hyphenated star has had plenty of “good” karma come her way, and her latest movie project is clearly evidence of this. Ariana Grande's latest role will see her grace the silver screen with some of Hollywood's biggest stars in one of the most popular romantic comedy franchises of our generation.
Ariana Grande joins the cast of the 'Meet the Parents' franchise
Last week, it was announced that Ariana Grande would be joining the cast of the latest installment of the Meet the Parents franchise, which is set to premiere on Nov. 25, 2026, according to Deadline. The pop star will be joined by returning co-stars Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Teri Polo, and Blythe Danner, with John Hamburg set to direct. Although her role in the film has been kept under wraps, The Hollywood Reporter alleges that she could be playing the role of "a ball-busting woman" who's engaged to the son of Stiller and Polo's characters.
Although she's best known for her singing prowess, Ariana Grande is no stranger to comedy. Her filmography is chock-full of comedic roles, including cameos on Saturday Night Live and Zoolander 2: her first collaboration with Ben Stiller. It's roles like this that allegedly helped secure her spot on the roster for the upcoming Meet the Parents sequel, and we can't wait to see how her character adds to the chemistry of the franchise.
The history of the 'Meet The Parents' franchise
Meet The Parents was originally released on Oct. 6, 2000. The iconic rom-com follows Greg Focker (Ben Stiller), a male nurse from Chicago, who sets off to win the hearts of his girlfriend’s parents and receive their blessing for his proposal. Instead of being welcomed to the family with open arms, what ensues is a hilarious blend of chaos, mental gymnastics, and awkward moments as Ben Focker's character is constantly challenged by the overprotection of his girlfriend’s ex-CIA dad, Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro).
Meet The Parents is one of the most hilarious, quotable rom coms of our generation ("i have nipples Greg, could you milk me?") In addition to its clever, relatable plot, the film was expertly cast with Robert De Niro's portrayal as the overprotective Jack Byrnes being the biggest stand out among them. Since its 2000s release, the film has added two sequels to its franchise: Meet the Fockers, released in 2004, followed by Little Fockers six years later.
The iconic rom-com has had its fair share of A-list cameos, including Barbra Streisand, Dustin Hoffman, Kevin Hart, and Owen Wilson. We’ve already seen the Fockers take on all sorts of wacky scenarios, like the integration of in-laws and the appointing of Greg as the head of the family (or "The God Focker" as it was so eloquently put.) It will be interesting to see what hilarious, awkward antics the Fockers get into next.
Meet The Parents 4 opens in theaters on November 25, 2026.