Big news for fans of awkward family dinners and comedic chaos: the Meet the Parents franchise is gearing up for a fourth installment! Universal has tapped John Hamburg, the mastermind who co-wrote the first three films, to take the director’s chair this time around. Even better? The original crew—Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Teri Polo, and Blythe Danner—are all returning to bring the Focker family back to life. Hamburg’s also writing the script, so expect that signature blend of cringe-worthy humor and heart.
Details about the plot? Well, they’re staying “inside the circle of trust” for now, but the production lineup is enough to get us excited. Jane Rosenthal and Robert De Niro are producing through Tribeca Productions, joined by Jay Roach of Delirious Media. Ben Stiller and John Lesher are on board via Red Hour Films, and Hamburg’s producing through his own Particular Pictures. With this team, we’re betting on another hilarious hit.
A Billion-Dollar Legacy
image : themoviedb
If you’ve somehow missed this franchise, here’s the rundown: the original Meet the Parents (2000) was a global sensation, pulling in over $330 million and landing as the seventh highest-grossing film of that year. The follow-ups, Meet the Fockers (2004) and Little Fockers (2010), kept the momentum going, pushing the trilogy’s worldwide box office to an impressive $1.13 billion. Clearly, Universal knows a good thing when they’ve got it!
Why John Hamburg Is the Perfect Pick
Hamburg’s no stranger to making us laugh. He burst onto the scene directing the quirky Safe Men (1998) before teaming up with Ben Stiller again for Along Came Polly (2004), a rom-com gem with Jennifer Aniston and Philip Seymour Hoffman. His directing chops shine in hits like I Love You, Man (2009) with Paul Rudd and Jason Segel, Why Him? (2016) starring Bryan Cranston and James Franco, and the recent Netflix laugh-fest Me Time (2022) with Kevin Hart and Mark Wahlberg.
As a writer, Hamburg’s comedy credentials are rock-solid. Beyond the Meet the Parents series, he co-wrote Zoolander—yes, the one with the Blue Steel poses. His sharp, relatable humor has made him a Hollywood favorite, and he’s not just a film guy. On TV, he directed the pilot for CBS’s The Unicorn and worked on shows like Undeclared, Stella, and New Girl. He’s even behind the camera for the upcoming Apple TV+ series Stick, starring Owen Wilson. Through Particular Pictures, he and partner Lauren Hennessey are cooking up more projects across film and TV.
What’s Next for the Fockers?
Universal’s Matt Reilly (EVP Production Development) and Jacqueline Garell (Director of Production Development) are overseeing this sequel, ensuring it stays on track. No release date yet, but with this cast and crew, we’re already counting down the days.
What do you think—will Greg Focker finally win over Jack Byrnes, or are we in for more hilarious disaster? Stay tuned for updates—this one’s bound to be a riot!
