After nine seasons, CBS’ hit sitcom How I Met Your Mother is coming to an end, and for better or for worse, the network is looking to recapture some of the show’s success by making a spin-off: How I Met Your Dad.
As the title would suggest, the series focuses on a new group of New York friends and explores the journey to marriage from the female perspective, most likely using the same structure as HIMYM. The show was given a pilot order in December, and now has the official green light as well as its star: indie darling Greta Gerwig.
According to Deadline, Gerwig will play Sally, “a female Peter Pan who has never grown up and has no idea of where she’s going in life. After breaking up with her husband of less than a year, Sally finds a solid circle of support in her friends and family.”
The actress’ big break came in 2010 when she co-starred in Greenberg, and made a lot of noise last year with her role in Frances Ha (which earned her a Golden Globe nomination for best actress). Aside from just starring in CBS’ upcoming sitcom, Gerwig is expected to be a writer and act as a producer, too.
Deadline notes the similarity of this circumstance to when Zooey Deschanel was brought on board for New Girl, a show that is now enjoying a third season and successful following. Casting someone like Gerwig, who is not only a good actress, but beloved by the indie crowd and knows her way around a script, could be a great thing for the series.
The show will no doubt be under the microscope when it premieres, having to live up to the success of its predecessor while proving that it’s more than just an attempt for CBS to hang onto HIMYM’s core audience. Considering that Gerwig’s character in Frances Ha sounds a lot like her new character Sally, How I Met Your Dad may be on track to succeed if she can bring that same charm and wit to the small screen.