Ben Stiller couldn’t help but gush over Ariana Grande’s comedic talent while discussing their upcoming film Focker-In-Law during an appearance on The View.
When asked about working with the pop star on the Meet the Parents sequel — which reunites him with Robert De Niro, Blythe Danner, and Teri Polo — Stiller kept details under wraps but shared nothing but praise for Grande.
“I can’t really say too much about it yet,” Stiller said around the 50-second mark. “But Ariana’s in it. She’s amazing. What a brilliant comedic actress, just an amazing person.”
“What’s surprising — or maybe not so surprising — is how seamlessly she fit in,” Stiller said at the time. “She’s such a pro, so funny, and incredibly talented — obviously as a singer — but she was also so funny and amazing in Wicked.”
He continued, “What she’s doing in this movie is really special. It’s a very unique character, and we’re having such a great time working together.”
Back in June, Stiller praised Grande once again during an NBC interview, calling her “the engine” of Focker-In-Law.
“She’s so talented,” he said. “She’s so great with comedy. I can’t really share too much about the film yet, but the character she’s playing — she’s going to be really, really funny and the driving force of the whole movie.”
News of Grande’s role in Focker-In-Law first broke in May, with reports revealing that she’ll play the fiancée of Stiller’s character’s son.
The film’s screenplay is written by John Hamburg, who co-wrote all three Meet the Parents movies and will also direct this installment. Focker-In-Law is set to hit theaters on November 25, 2026.
