Dustin Hoffman Not Returning for Little Fockers?

Published by Jeff Leins on: November 20th, 2009

Dustin Hoffman may not be returning for the third installment of the Fockers comedy trilogy, Little Fockers.  The new sequel focuses on the young Fockers (Ben Stiller and Teri Polo) struggling to raise five-year-old twins.

I thought it was understood that Hoffman and Streisand would not be returning as Bernie and Rozalin Focker, but according to Entertainment Weekly’s rumor report, there was a “very funny” cameo for Hoffman at least at the end of the film.  Judging from the cringe-worthy gags in the second movie, how funny could it be?

Apparently Hoffman is not interested in cameos because the dispute is over the size of the part, as well as the scheduling and other difficulties.  Streisand supposedly has a prominent role in the movie though.

I tend to agree with Hoffman.  He’s an Oscar winner and a veteran actor, not some pop-in celebrity that should play second fiddle to Jessica Alba and slapstick toddler humor.

Plus Hoffman probably has a point.  Why would he want to scrap a potential part in another film (likely as a lead) for a bit role in a silly comedy threequel?  As for the money, my guess is Universal is low-balling him based on the size of the part, not letting on the fact that they’re going to plaster his name all over the marketing materials.  But of course, that’s just my own focking speculation.

Aside from Stiller, Polo, and Alba, the rest of the cast includes Robert De Niro, Blythe Danner, Laura Dern, Harvey Keitel, and Owen Wilson.  Filming is already underway.