The How I Met Your Father spinoff, which drew on nostalgia by featuring cameos from the original How I Met Your Mother cast, left many fans excited to see familiar faces like Cobie Smulders and Neil Patrick Harris return. However, one notable absence was Josh Radnor, who played Ted Mosby. According to People magazine, Craig Thomas, one of the creators of both shows, revealed that they didn’t reach out to Radnor for the spinoff, stating that it would have had to be a “really good idea” to ask him to return. Despite this, Thomas seems to hold no ill will about Radnor’s absence, noting that it was simply how things worked out.
Interestingly, Radnor, who was at the benefit concert with Thomas in January, shared that he and Thomas are working on something together, which is set to be released in the spring. Thomas was enthusiastic about Radnor moving back to New York, hinting at a “little project” the pair are collaborating on but kept details under wraps. The fans can expect an official reveal soon, with Thomas promising to share the news with People first when the time is right.
Meanwhile, some of the original cast, like Jason Segel (Marshall Eriksen), had expressed interest in appearing on How I Met Your Father, but others, like Alyson Hannigan (Lily Aldrin), seemed more hesitant, though she supported the show in other ways, including with her husband’s guest role. It seems like the HIMYM universe, while branching out, still holds plenty of room for more collaborations and surprises.