You thought the Fockers were gone for good? Think again. Universal Pictures has released the first trailer for “Focker-in-Law,” the fourth entry in the ‘Meet the Parents’ franchise.
Set to hit theaters this fall, the film sees the return of Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Blythe Danner, Teri Polo, the newly added Beanie Feldstein, and none other than Ariana Grande, fresh off two ‘Wicked’ movies.
Grande will reportedly play the fiancée of Greg and Pam’s son. Will De Niro bring back the lie detector? You bet. It’s all very predictable, and desperate.
Jay Roach directed the first two films, with Paul Weitz taking over for the third. Now, John Hamburg steps in to helm the fourth—he also penned the script. His last two efforts were “Me Time,” and “Why Him?” Consider that a warning.
The only genuinely good movie in this series was the gut-bustingly funny original, “Meet the Parents,” from 2000. Since then? Crumbs. “Meet the Fockers” (2004) was underwhelming. “Little Fockers” (2010) was what happens when a franchise overstays its welcome by about six years. Still, all three films somehow racked up over $1.1 billion globally — so, yeah, it’s no surprise Universal wants to milk this franchise further.
More curiously, Jane Rosenthal, speaking to Variety last June, made it clear that “Focker-in-Law” will have to play things safer this time around. “There are jokes you can’t tell anymore,” she said, carefully dodging specifics. “You have to think about who’s going to have issues with a joke now.”
Is there still an audience for this franchise? Probably. Universal wouldn’t have greenlit the damn thing if they didn’t believe in its potential. The cast is starry, the holiday release is strategic, millennials grew up with this franchise, and Ariana Grande is there for Gen Z bait. While we’re at it, might as well greenlight ‘Big Momma’s House 4.’
“Focker-in-Law” hits theaters on November 25, 2026.
That's about as direct as an A-lister gets about a major studio, and Affleck can probably say it now since most of the 2017 Warner Bros. brass is no longer in charge.