Ariana Grande is stepping into another major film role, this time in a franchise that helped define early 2000s comedy. The singer and actress has officially joined the cast of Meet the Parents 4, set to premiere in theaters on November 25, 2026.

This is Grande’s first confirmed role since Wicked, where she played Glinda alongside Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba. The two-part musical was both a commercial and critical success, earning Grande her first Oscar nomination. While many anticipated she would continue in musical projects, her decision to take on a studio comedy suggests an interest in expanding her film career and stepping into more varied genres.

Meet the Parents 4 brings back familiar faces, with Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro reprising their roles as Greg Focker and Jack Byrnes. Grande joins the cast as the confident fiancée of Greg and Pam’s grown son, introducing a new generational layer to the family dynamic. Teri Polo and Blythe Danner will also return, and longtime collaborator John Hamburg is on board to direct.

Plot details are still being kept quiet, but producers have hinted at a familiar setup: the family is reunited, old habits resurface, and new members are tested as the story moves into its next phase. This installment appears to focus on Greg and Pam’s children stepping into adulthood, with Grande’s character positioned as a central figure in that transition. The film is expected to keep the tone and rhythm that made the original series successful, while updating its themes for a new audience.

Grande’s casting comes at a moment of transition in her career, as she continues to move beyond music and into scripted film. Her performance in Wicked established her ability to take on emotionally layered material in a lead role, earning both critical praise and awards recognition. With Meet the Parents 4, she enters new territory: ensemble comedy built on character dynamics and dialogue rather than spectacle. It’s a quieter role, but one that may serve to further solidify her presence in film, suggesting a long-term commitment to developing range as an actor.

In recent years, Grande has approached her public image and career with more intention, choosing roles and appearances selectively. Her move to join a long-standing comedy franchise like Meet the Parents reflects a strategic choice, one that balances the visibility of a major studio project with the opportunity to bring a fresh perspective to a familiar story.