Ariana Grande Joins Cast of Meet the Parents Sequel
Ariana Grande, the multi-platinum selling singer and actress, is set to join the original cast of Meet the Parents in an upcoming sequel, according to a report from The Guardian. The as-yet-untitled fourth film in the successful comedy franchise will see Grande star alongside Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller, with the plot details being kept under wraps.
The Hollywood Reporter claims that Grande will play a "ball-busting woman" who is engaged to the son of Stiller’s character. The trade also reports that Grande had been offered many roles since her Oscar-nominated performance in Wicked, but was determined to find a comedy that suited her. As noted by The Guardian, Grande’s decision to join the film is a significant addition to the franchise.
News of the film had originally been reported back in December, and since then De Niro and Stiller have both been confirmed to reprise their roles. Co-stars Blythe Danner and Teri Polo are reportedly in negotiations to join them, according to The Guardian. The original film was released in 2000 and became a major box office hit, making $330m from a $55m budget. Two further films followed, and the franchise has to date made over $1.1bn worldwide.
The upcoming sequel will be directed by John Hamburg, who co-wrote the previous films. Producer Jane Rosenthal was recently asked about the sequel in a Variety interview, and revealed that the idea had been discussed for some time. "We’d always talked about it," she said. "Ben Stiller is now the same age that Bob was when we did the first one, and his kids have grown up, and they have to come home and meet the parents." Rosenthal also expressed her hope that the film would premiere in cinemas rather than streaming, citing the unique experience of watching a film in a theatre. As The Guardian reported, Rosenthal emphasized the importance of the theatrical experience.
Grande, who has sold over 90m records worldwide, has been expanding her acting career in recent years. She previously acted on TV’s Victorious and Scream Queens before landing the role of Glinda in the two-part big screen adaptation of the musical Wicked. Her performance earned her a best supporting actress Oscar nomination, and the film made over $750m at the global box office. As reported by The Guardian, Grande’s success in Wicked has led to a range of new opportunities.
The follow-up to Wicked, titled Wicked: For Good, is set to be released later this year. Grande’s involvement in the Meet the Parents sequel is a significant coup for the franchise, and is likely to generate significant buzz. According to The Guardian, the film is expected to be a major hit, with Grande’s fans eagerly anticipating her next move. With production underway, fans will be eagerly awaiting the release of the film, which promises to be a hilarious addition to the beloved comedy franchise.
