has been announced that Owen Wilson is rejoining the dysfunctional family comedy fold in "Meet the Parents 4", reprising his role as Kevin Rawley. The upcoming sequel reunites much of the original cast, including Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, and Teri Polo, and introduces global pop sensation Ariana Grande in a major new role. The film is set for a wide theatrical release via Universal Pictures on Wednesday, November 25, 2026, just in time for Thanksgiving weekend.
Wilson's character, Kevin, first appeared in the original Meet the Parents as the too-perfect ex-boyfriend of Pam Byrnes (Polo). A wealthy, hyper-competent Renaissance man, complete with woodworking skills and spiritual enlightenment, Kevin became an ongoing source of insecurity for Stiller's neurotic Greg Focker, who continually struggles to win the respect of his intimidating father-in-law Jack Byrnes, played by De Niro.
While plot details remain under wraps, it's being reported that "Meet the Parents 4" will focus on the next generation of Focker family chaos. One of the central storylines reportedly revolves around Greg and Pam's son, who becomes engaged to a fiercely overbearing woman that no one in the family believes is a good match. Ariana Grande steps into the role of the controversial fiancée, whose arrival sparks a new wave of familial interference, scrutiny, and awkward comedy.
The film marks the return of director and writer John Hamburg, who penned all three previous entries in the series. Hamburg also directed "Meet the Fockers" and "Little Fockers", and recently directed Owen Wilson in Apple TV+'s "Stick". Hamburg is producing the film through his company Particular Pictures.
Production duties are being shared by an all-star lineup of industry veterans - Jane Rosenthal and Robert De Niro via Tribeca Productions, Jay Roach through Delirious Media, and Ben Stiller and John Lesher under Red Hour Films. Universal Pictures executives Matt Reilly (EVP of Production Development) and Jacqueline Garell (Director of Production Development) are overseeing the project for the studio. Paramount Pictures is set to co-produce and handle the film's international release.
The "Meet the Parents" franchise began in 2000, with the original film grossing more than $330 million worldwide and ranking as the seventh highest-grossing film of that year. Its sequels, "Meet the Fockers" (2004) and "Little Fockers" (2010), expanded the franchise, pushing the total global earnings to over $1.13 billion.
Tags: owen wilson, meet the parents 4, ben stiller, robert deniro