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Greta Gerwig Spills How I Met Your Dad Scoop: "It Shares the Heart and Soul With the Original Show"

Exclusive! The HIMYM spin-off star spills that the original cast has given her their blessings to continue their stories

By Leanne Aguilera Mar 05, 2014 5:55 PMTags
Watch: Greta Gerwig Scared for New Show "HIMYD"

We're going to be honest. When were first learned that there was a How I Met Your Mother spin-off in the works, we were a little skeptical and unsure. Upon hearing the news, we may have unleashed our own "You're dead to me look" to everyone in the room. However, after chatting with Greta Gerwig, the new lead of How I Met Your Dad, we're pleasantly surprised and genuinely excited to see if this sure-to-be legendary pilot will make it to our TV screens.

This is mostly due to the fact that Gerwig is taking her role as the "New Ted Mosby" as seriously as any HIMYM fan would hope. "I'm terrified," the star revealed exclusively to E! News at the Vanity Fair Oscars party.

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Despite her fears, the critically acclaimed writer and actress says she already has the support of the HIMYM cast. "They're so nice! I went and I hung out with all the cast and they were like, 'If you can be part of this world, it's crazy fun,'" she gushed. "They told me they believed in me, and it was really sweet." Well, if she's got Lily's (Alyson Hannigan) approval, then you know she must be the perfect fit!

The Frances Ha actress will take on the role of Sally, a sweet yet free-spirited girl in her late-20s who has never really embraced the notion of growing up. However, unlike Ted (Josh Radnor), Sally is already married when we first meet her in the pilot.

In addition to starring in the series, Gerwig will also be taking on a major behind-the-scenes role as a writer and executive producer alongside co-creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas. "I contributed a lot into the pilot, and I'll be in the writers room staring June 1 if they pick it up," she said. "I shoot the pilot in like two weeks and then hopefully it becomes a real show."

Luckily, Gerwig is not jumping into this new experience as a complete HIMYM novice. Fans should be pleased to know that the 30-year-old actress has been right there with viewers through all of the slaptastic shenanigans. "I've been a fan of this show since really early on," she promised. "I've seen every episode."

So what can fans expect if (and hopefully when) they get to tune into the How I Met Your Dad pilot? Gerwig assured us that the spinoff will honor our McLaren's Pub-loving flagship in each and every way. "It's funny. It shares the heart and soul with the original show, so it has the sweetness and the funniness," she said. Woo hoo! A glass of Glen McKenna for everyone!

Take a look at our full interview with the How I Met Your Dad star above to find out if Neil Patrick Harris could be making a brotastic cameo in the pilot.