Ariana Grande's First Movie After Wicked Is A Great Move For Her

Ariana Grande‘s first movie after Wicked has been revealed, and it’s a great move for her. Though the actor started her career as a teenager in the 2008 Broadway musical 13, she rose to fame for her role as Cat Valentine on the Nickelodeon sitcom Victorious (2010–2013), followed by its spin-off, Sam & Cat (2013–2014). From there, her focus shifted to her music career as she enjoyed a rapid ascent as a pop star with chart-topping hits like “The Way,” “Thank U, Next,” and “Bang Bang.”

Though she returned to movies in 2021 with Adam McKay’s Don’t Look Up, it was in 2024 that Grande garnered critical acclaim for her performance as Glinda in Wicked, based on the Broadway musical, making great use of her incredible vocal range. She will return as Glinda in Wicked: For Good, which will adapt the second half of the stage show and is set for release on November 21. However, Grande already has a new role lined up, and it’s a great choice for her first film after Wicked.

Meet The Parents 4 Will Be Ariana Grande’s First Movie After Wicked & Wicked: For Good

She Joins Original Stars Robert De Niro & Ben Stiller

Though a fourth film has been in development for years, a recent report revealed that Grande has joined the cast of Meet the Parents 4, marking her first movie after Wicked and Wicked: For Good releases this November. She becomes part of an ensemble cast that already includes original stars Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Blythe Danner, and Teri Polo. John Hamburg, who co-wrote the first three films, will write and direct the new installment.

Meet the Parents 4 is tentatively scheduled for release in late November 2026, coinciding with Thanksgiving week that year, which is almost exactly one year after when Wicked: For Good will be released in theaters. Though overall plot details remain under wraps, it is reported that Grande will play the fiancée of Stiller’s character’s son, who is described as a tough and domineering woman who appears to be a poor match for him.

Wicked Proved How Great Ariana Grande Is As A Comedic Presence

There Are A Lot Of Layers To Her Performance As Glinda

Grande’s performance as Glinda in Wicked proved how great she is as a comedic presence. While she has long been known for her powerhouse vocal prowess, Wicked showcased just how instinctively funny she can be. Her timing is razor-sharp, her facial expressions perfectly exaggerated, and she brings a natural buoyancy to nearly every scene. Her comedic delivery – playful, precise, and never forced – made Glinda both hilarious and incredibly endearing to audiences.

Much of Glinda’s charm comes from Grande’s ability to oscillate between vanity, vulnerability, and utter ridiculousness…

What made Grande such a great comedic presence in Wicked is her layered performance as Glinda, which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She doesn’t just play for laughs, as much of Glinda’s charm comes from Grande’s ability to oscillate between vanity, vulnerability, and utter ridiculousness without ever missing a beat. Wicked proved that comedy isn’t just something that Grande can do, but it’s something she excels at and should pursue more in the future.

Meet The Parents 4 Can Help Cement Ariana Grande As A Modern Comedic Star

It Should Showcase A Different Side To Her Comedic Range

By joining a genre-defining franchise alongside heavyweights like Stiller and De Niro, Meet the Parents 4 can help cement Grande as a modern comedic star. She’s reportedly playing a “ball-busting” fiancée who seems all wrong for her partner, which should give her the perfect platform to lean into a more bold and exaggerated style of humor, while hopefully tapping into the same charm and nuance she brought to her Oscar-nominated performance in Wicked.

Joining a film franchise centered around awkward family dynamics and escalating absurdity gives Grande the perfect opportunity to showcase a different side of her comedic range. If she can bring the same blend of sharp wit and emotional depth that she used to redefine Glinda, her performance could result in a different kind of breakout, this time in straight comedy. Meet the Parents 4 might just be the movie that cements Grande as a full-fledged comedic star.

Meet the Parents 4 is scheduled for release on November 25, 2026.