20 Recent Casting Choices NOBODY Expected

In fairness, few expected a fourth Meet the Parents movie to ever get made, and yet, here we are with Focker In-Law.

In addition to the likes of Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Teri Polo, Blythe Danner, and Owen Wilson all reprising their roles in the belated sequel, it was recently announced that Ariana Grande has joined the ensemble cast.

The Hollywood Reporter subsequently confirmed that no, Grande won't be playing herself in a cheeky cameo, but will instead be playing a "ball-busting" woman who gets engaged to the son of Stiller and Polo's characters.

It's certainly a left-field choice, to cast Grande in a role that doesn't require any singing and, more to the point, seems polar opposite to her popular persona. 

But playing against type can work wonders when done right, especially in a comedy where subverting expectations can generate uproarious laughs. Above all else, Grande's presence certainly won't do the film's box office any harm.