"She's the Whole Engine": Ben Stiller Says Ariana Grande Will Steal 'Meet the Parents 4'

There’s a new Focker in the family — and she can sing. Ariana Grande is officially joining the Meet the Parents universe, and according to Ben Stiller, she’s not just in the movie — she is the movie. While speaking with the Today show on June 9 alongside returning co-stars Robert De Niro and Teri Polo, Stiller revealed that Grande is playing a central part in Meet the Parents 4, the long-awaited fourth installment of the blockbuster comedy franchise.

“She’s going to be really, really funny and kind of the whole engine of the new movie,” Stiller said, adding that Grande is “so great with comedy.” Though the plot is still under wraps, Stiller couldn’t help but hype the role: “It’s exciting.”

Grande’s casting was first revealed in May, coming on the heels of her awards season triumph with Wicked: Part One. The upcoming film — still untitled — marks her return to comedy, and early reports indicate her character plays a pivotal role in the next chapter of Focker family chaos. While her exact character is being kept secret, speculation suggests she may be playing Greg and Pam’s now-grown daughter or perhaps someone dating into the family. Either way, expect absolute chaos given Grande’s immense talent for comedy, as she has so aptly demonstrated not just in Wicked, but also in her Saturday Night Live hosting gigs.

De Niro couldn’t resist teasing that “half the scenes I have with her will be singing scenes,” after Polo jokingly described him as an “excellent singer and dancer.” If there’s a surprise musical sequence tucked inside Meet the Parents 4, we’re officially on board.

Why Is ‘Meet the Parents 4’ Being Made?

The interview came just two days after the cast reunited at the Tribeca Festival on June 7 for a special 25th anniversary screening of the original Meet the Parents. Speaking at the post-screening Q&A, moderated by NBC’s Joe Fryer, the cast reflected on how the story — and their own lives — have evolved, with Stiller explaining he had evolved into the position that De Niro was in 25 years earlier.

“I think what spurred the idea was that at this point in time, I’m the age that Bob was when we did the first movie. Teri is the same age she was when we did the first movie, and it felt like this sort of mirrors the first film in terms of the fact that my kids are grown and one of my kids is thinking about introducing his person to the family.”

Meet the Parents 4 is set for release on November 25, 2026.