Ariana Grande Lands Next Major Movie Role Following 'Wicked' Success, And It's Not A Musical

Ariana Grande is heading back to the big screen, this time, with comedy legends.

The pop superstar and recent Oscar nominee is set to star alongside Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro in Universal Pictures’ "Meet the Parents 4," the long-awaited continuation of the hit comedy franchise.

Sources confirm that longtime cast members Blythe Danner and Teri Polo are also expected to return, alongside newcomer Ariana Grande, although their deals have yet to be finalized.

The upcoming film, slated for release on November 25, 2026, will be directed by John Hamburg, who penned the screenplays for the previous three installments. Hamburg will also produce via his Particular Pictures banner. Original trilogy director Jay Roach returns as a producer, joined by Jane Rosenthal and De Niro through Tribeca Productions, as well as Stiller and John Lesher via Red Hour Films.

"Meet the Parents" first premiered in 2000, charming audiences with its relatable premise about meeting a future father-in-law—and the comedic chaos that follows. The film was a massive hit, earning over $330 million worldwide and propelling Stiller into comedy superstardom. De Niro, meanwhile, flipped his tough-guy persona on its head, cementing his place in early 2000s pop culture.

The success of the original led to two sequels, "Meet the Fockers" and "Little Fockers," which brought in heavy hitters like Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand and pushed the franchise’s global box office to over $1.13 billion.

Grande’s casting marks her first major film role since her critically acclaimed performance in "Wicked," which earned her an Academy Award nomination.

The blockbuster musical adaptation, directed by Jon M. Chu, has grossed over $700 million globally, making it the highest-grossing film adaptation of a Broadway musical to date. It won Best Costume Design and Best Production Design at the 2025 Academy Awards, also receiving nominations for Best Picture and Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes.

The National Board of Review named it Best Picture of the Year.

The announcement also follows hints Grande gave about another project tied to her music. While walking the red carpet at the Golden Globes, the "Positions" singer teased a mysterious “attachment” to her seventh studio album, "Eternal Sunshine."

“It’s not something I’m thinking about right now,” she said of new music, “but, you know, there’s something I made last year that will come out eventually. It’s an attachment of 'Eternal Sunshine.' So, that does exist, and that will be coming out at some point.”

"Eternal Sunshine," which dropped in March 2025, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and was praised by fans and critics alike. Led by the chart-topping single “Yes, And?”, it became Grande’s sixth No. 1 album.

Grande also recently shared an emotional behind-the-scenes moment from her final days filming "Wicked." In a video posted to Instagram by both Grande and director Jon M. Chu, she can be seen tearfully saying goodbye to her Glinda bubble.

“Attempting to say goodbye to my bubble after we finished filming my final scene in it,” she captioned the post, adding, “The attachment I felt to my wand and my bubble was comically overwhelming.”

She continued, “Many, many long, beautiful days were spent here, in the sunshine, in the freezing rain and wind. We sang, we laughed, we shared tearful, complicated moments and silly ones alike. These props and physical pieces of her puzzle hold so much!!!!!!!”

The magic of Oz isn’t over yet.

Following the enchanting debut of "Wicked: Part One" in 2024, fans won’t have to wait too long to return to the Emerald City. The highly anticipated sequel, "Wicked: For Good," is officially set to hit theaters on November 21, 2025, wrapping up the dazzling two-part adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical.

As expected, Grande and Cynthia Erivo will reprise their roles as Glinda and Elphaba, respectively. While the first film focused on their evolving friendship and the events leading up to Elphaba’s infamous transformation into the Wicked Witch of the West, the second installment will dive deeper into their emotional journeys, likely with more distance between the two powerful women.

As Grande moves forward with her new film project, fans are already buzzing with excitement for what’s next in both her acting and music careers. And while plot details for "Meet the Fockers 4" remain under wraps, fans can expect the same mix of awkward family dynamics and laugh-out-loud moments that made the original trilogy such a hit.