- Meet the parents 4 has been confirmed in development
- Original stars Ben Stiller, Teri Polo and Robert Di Niro all returning
- The most recent movie, Little Fockers, was released in 2010
We last saw Greg and Pam Focker on screen in 2010, but now we have confirmation that Meet the Parents 4 is coming, and it’s the right time for them to return.
Deadline confirmed the news that John Hamburg has written the script for the forthcoming movie and is in talks to direct it as well. It was also confirmed that original stars Ben Stiller (Greg Focker), Teri Polo (Pam Focker), Robert Di Niro (Jack Byrnes) and Blythe Danner (Dina Byrnes) are all reprising their roles. However, there was no word on whether Dustin Hoffman and Brabara Streisand would be returning as Bernie and Roz Focker respectively.
Hamburg also worked on the scripts of the previous three films in the franchise; 2000’s Meet the Parents, 2004 sequel Meet the Fockers and Little Fockers from 2010.
Last time we saw Greg and Pam Focker
The last instalment of the franchise centred on Greg and Pam preparing for the 5th birthday of their twins, Samantha and Henry, while also planning on moving into an as-yet-unfinished new house.
If that wasn’t complicated enough for Greg, his in-laws, Jack and Dina come to visit. Jack, still with all his CIA skills and innate suspicion, is aware of how he is ageing, and says that he wants Greg to be his successor as head of the family.
Of course, nothing runs smoothly, and Greg gets involved in arguments, is accused of having an affair, then has to deal with Jack when he collapses – and still make everything right in time for the twins’ party.
Right time for Meet the Parents 4
So after 15 years, it feels like the right time to catch up with Greg and Pam. Given that their children will now be grown up, it seems there should be plenty of comedic mileage in their reaction to their children dating and – who knows – even looking to get married to someone the parents might have their doubts about.
Their warmth, as well as the relatable worries they have, are familiar to millions – even if they don’t have an ex-CIA agent as a father-in-law. Many parents will know the feelings when their children start to date.
Could Greg look to his father-in-law’s techniques to snoop on his son/daughter’s boy/girlfriends, bringing about a neat circularity to the franchise? Could they even team up? Now that would be interesting.
As usual with movies these days, plot details are still under wraps, so all this is speculation. We will no doubt find out more as production develops. As yet, there is no word on when the film might hit theaters.
This isn’t the only role Stiller is set to reprise, as he is back in the forthcoming Adam Sandler vehicle Happy Gilmore 2 as psychotic nursing home orderly Hal L – pictures of which emerged recently.
