EXCLUSIVE: Momentum on the next installment in the Meet The Parents franchise is starting to gain steam as sources tell Deadline John Hamburg is set to direct the fourth film in the series. As Deadline first reported, the original cast that includes Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Teri Polo and Blythe Danner are returning to star with Hamburg penning the script as well. Hamburg had penned the three other Meet The Parents pics and takes over directing duties from Jay Roach, who had helmed all three films.
Plot details are being kept inside the circle of trust. Jane Rosenthal and Robert De Niro will produce through Tribeca Productions. Jay Roach will produce through Delirious Media. Ben Stiller and John Lesher will produce through Red Hour Films. John Hamburg will produce through Particular Pictures.
Meet the Parents was critically acclaimed upon its release and grossed over $330 million in the global box office, becoming the seventh highest grossing film globally in 2000. Its sequels Meet the Fockers and Little Fockers were also box office successes, culminating in a total franchise gross of over $1.13 billion in the global box office.
Executive Vice President of Production Development Matt Reilly and Director of Production Development Jacqueline Garell will oversee the project for the Studio.
Hamburg made his directorial debut with the cult classic, Safe Men (1998) before going on to write and direct the hit comedy Along Came Polly (2004), starring Ben Stiller, Jennifer Aniston, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. His directing credits also include the critically acclaimed film I Love You, Man (2009), featuring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel, Why Him? (2016), starring Bryan Cranston and James Franco, and Me Time (2022), a Netflix comedy starring Kevin Hart and Mark Wahlberg.
As a screenwriter, Hamburg has contributed to several blockbuster comedies, including Meet the Parents, Meet the Fockers and Zoolander. His ability to craft relatable and sharp-witted humor has made him one of Hollywood’s most sought-after comedic voices.
Beyond film, Hamburg has worked extensively in television. He directed the pilot for and served as an executive producer on CBS’s The Unicorn, starring Walton Goggins. He has also directed episodes of Undeclared, Stella and New Girl. Most recently, he directed multiple episodes of the highly anticipated Apple TV+ show, Stick, starring Owen Wilson.
Through his production company, Particular Pictures, Hamburg, and producing partner Lauren Hennessey, are currently developing various film and television projects across multiple studios.
Hamburg is represented by WME and Sloss Eckhouse Dasti Haynes LawCo.
