For a while, creators of the hit show How I Met Your Mother considered a side-parted look for a new project focused on a bandmate from New York in his thirties. They aimed to refresh the concept, making it contemporary and distinct from the original, so they chose a female lead instead of the familiar Ted Mosby. The chosen star was Hilary Duff, a 34-year-old actress and singer who first became famous as a child on Lizzie McGuire. In Spain, audiences will start seeing how she narrates the story of her romance to her son starting Wednesday, May 11, as How I Met Your Father premieres on Disney+.
It turns the camera toward her future self, especially from the year 2050, who reveals to the child how she met his father. But the heart of the tale remains in the present, and the narrator is not the only focal point. Duff plays Sophie, a thirty-something woman navigating love in the era of dating apps. She finds dating exhausting but never loses faith that love is out there.
The series pushes beyond a simple retread by introducing more diversity. Sophie’s roommate Valentina, played by France Raisa, is of Mexican origin. The supporting cast includes characters of Indian descent, portrayed by Sid and Suraj Sharma, and Ellen, a young lesbian character played by Tien Tran. The ensemble also features Christopher Lowell as Jesse, Ellen’s half-brother, and Tom Ainsley as Charlie, Valentina’s stylish British boyfriend.
Season two confirmed
The show nods to its predecessor from the start. The group now spends time at a bar owned by Sid, and Sid and his friend Charlie reside in the apartment once inhabited by Marshall and Lily, preserving familiar elements of the original set.
With a second season already confirmed, How I Met Your Father is moving forward with a plan that includes twenty episodes. Hilary Duff serves as executive producer, continuing her long journey from the teen icon who once left the world of Lizzie McGuire to a broader career in film and television. Her early projects helped shape a generation, from Agent Cody Banks to later television roles that broadened her reach.
Duff has balanced acting with music, amassing a catalog of around fifteen million records sold. On screen, she has encountered challenges replicating the impact of Lizzie McGuire, though she has taken part in various projects across genres. Her presence spans fiction and reality, from teen-oriented stories to contemporary comedies, with frequent appearances in discussions about pop culture. Her business ventures include fashion lines and fragrance collaborations, demonstrating a diversified career beyond the screen.
Divorce and new partner
Duff is also a mother to three children, a detail she often shares on social media. Her family includes Luke Cruz, born from her first marriage to ice hockey player Mike Comrie, Violet Banks from a second marriage to the musician, and Mae James, born most recently. She has explored storytelling beyond acting, drafting a series of novels aimed at young readers, with more to come at the end of April.
In the film How I Met Your Father, writers Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger collaborate with showrunners who previously created other beloved series and films. The team behind this project has a track record of crafting heartfelt family stories and witty, character-driven comedy that resonates with a broad audience.