Long-running CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother ended a few years ago but its legacy lives on. While other series have been revived or rebooted, HIMYM is getting the spinoff treatment at Hulu. Before you can say legen…wait for it…dary, the previously announced project is now not only a go for a pilot but is getting a full series order!
The new series, titled How I Met Your Father, has been given a 10-episode order, with Hillary Duff (Younger, Lizzie McGuire) set to star. This Is Us and Love, Victor showrunners Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger will oversee the new series. HIMYM creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas will return as executive producers apace with Aptaker and Berger. Duff is also listed as a producer on the new series.
Here's the official logline for How I Met Your Father: "In the near future, Sophie (Duff) is telling her son the story of how she met his father: a story that catapults us back to the year 2021 where Sophie and her close-knit group of friends are in the midst of figuring out who they are, what they want out of life, and how to fall in love in the age of dating apps and limitless options."
"Kids, I’m going to tell you an incredible story: It’s the story of how two writers got lucky enough to make their dream TV show for nine seasons and now get to pass the torch to an inspired new creative team with their own incredible story to tell, the story of How I Met Your Father," Bays and Thomas said in a joint statement Wednesday. "We are honored by their passion and vision, and look forward to helping them tell a legendary new story. (Thanks to all the HIMYM fans out there who waited for it.)"
"We are beyond excited to be bringing How I Met Your Father to Hulu," said Aptaker and Berger. "Carter and Craig’s iconic original series revolutionized the half-hour comedy, and we are so honored to be carrying the torch forward for the next generation — and with Hilary Duff no less! We can’t wait for audiences to meet Sophie and her crew and watch them come into their own and find love in modern-day New York City. And we hope nobody thinks it’s weird that Bob Saget will be playing old Hilary Duff’s voice."
"I've been incredibly lucky in my career to play some wonderful characters and I’m looking forward to taking on the role of Sophie," said Duff. "As a huge fan of How I Met Your Mother, I’m honored and even a little nervous that Carter and Craig would trust me with the sequel of their baby. Isaac and Elizabeth are brilliant, and I can’t wait to work alongside them and all of their genius. Just fangirling over here getting to join the Hulu Originals and 20th families. I realize these are big shoes to fill and I’m excited to slip my 6½'s in there!"
How I Met Your Mother lasted nine seasons for a total of 208 episodes from 2005-2014. The laugh-out-loud comedy starred Josh Radnor (Hunters), Jason Segel (Dispatches From Elsewhere), a pre-Marvel Studios Cobie Smulders (Captain America: The Winter Soldier), Neil Patrick Harris (Starship Troopers), and Alyson Hannigan (American Pie).
"How I Met Your Mother continues to be one of the most innovative and beloved comedies on television,” said Craig Erwich, president, Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment. "Isaac and Elizabeth have an inspired take on this new version that honors what Carter and Craig created with the original and moves the franchise forward. Isaac and Elizabeth have proven to be rich storytellers and great partners to us at Hulu Originals and across the Walt Disney Co. family. Coupled with the passion and infectious energy Hilary brings to every role she takes on, we can’t wait to suit up and bring audiences How I Met Your Father."
What say you, dear readers? Are you ready to dip back into the world of How I Met Your Mother by way of a new series starring Hilary Duff?