EXCLUSIVE: Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Teri Polo and Blythe Danner are in early talks to return for a new film in the Meet the Parents franchise, in development at Universal Pictures.
Plot details are being kept inside the circle of trust. John Hamburg — who co-wrote all three prior films in the franchise, and produced the most recent, Little Fockers — is set to write the screenplay. No word yet on who’s directing.
Jane Rosenthal and De Niro are returning to produce through Tribeca Productions, along with Jay Roach — who directed the first two films and produced all three past installments — through Delirious Media. Stiller and John Lesher will also produce through Red Hour Films. Executive Vice President of Production Development Matt Reilly and Director of Production Development Jacqueline Garrell will oversee the project for the studio.
A comedy juggernaut hinging on uncomfortable situations with in-laws, Meet the Parents centers on the hilariously awkward and tension-filled dynamics between male nurse Greg Focker (Stiller) and his intimidating, ex-CIA father-in-law, Jack Byrnes (De Niro), watching as the dynamic between them both evolves and stays the same, as Greg marries Jack’s daughter, Pam (Polo), and has children with her. Also a core cast member, Danner plays Jack’s wife, Dina. While Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand also appeared in multiple films as Greg’s parents, Bernie and Roz — along with Owen Wilson as Pam’s ex-boyfriend, Kevin — it’s not yet clear whether they’ll return.
Meet the Parents was critically acclaimed upon its release and grossed over $330 million worldwide, becoming the seventh highest grossing film globally in 2000. Sequels Meet the Fockers (2004) and Little Fockers (2010) followed and were also box office successes, culminating in a total franchise gross of over $1.13 billion.
Coming off of roles in Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon and Tony Goldwyn’s Ezra, De Niro will next be seen starring in Barry Levinson’s crime drama Alto Knights, which Warner Bros releases on March 21. Upcoming, he’ll also be seen leading Netflix’s political thriller Zero Day, which he exec produces.
Currently, Stiller can be seen starring in David Gordon Green’s Hulu holiday comedy Nutcrackers, also putting in an appearance as Lucifer in Bobby Farrelly’s Dear Santa for Paramount+. As an actor, upcoming projects include true-crime pic Belly of the Beast opposite Colin Farrell, pickleball comedy The Dink (which he also produces), and Happy Gilmore 2. He also continues to direct and exec produce on Apple TV+’s Severance, which returns on January 17.
Recent projects for Polo include Freeform’s Good Trouble and Fox’s The Big Leap. Upcoming, she’ll be seen in dramedy Relative Control and supernatural thriller The Evilry opposite Faye Dunaway.
On the film side, Danner’s recent credits include Happiness for Beginners, Hearts Beat Loud, and What They Had. She’s also been seen lately on shows like Will & Grace and American Gods.
Outside of Meet the Parents, Hamburg has additional history with Stiller as the director of his film Along Came Polly and co-writer of his comedy classic Zoolander. Most recently, he wrote, directed, and produced the Netflix buddy comedy Me Time, starring Kevin Hart and Mark Wahlberg. He’s also mounted comedies like I Love You, Man and Why Him? and directed on series like The Unicorn.
De Niro is represented by CAA and Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sacks; Stiller by WME and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern; Polo by Gersh, McGowan Rodriguez Management, and Kraditor & Haber; Danner by Anonymous Content; and Hamburg by WME and Sloss Eckhouse Dasti Haynes LawCo.