It has been over two years since Hulu pulled the plug on How I Met Your Father, leaving fans without the answer to the show’s central mystery. The series, a spin-off of the beloved How I Met Your Mother, ended its run in the fall of 2023 after two seasons. The abrupt cancellation meant viewers never got to see who the father of Hilary Duff’s character, Sophie, actually was.
Now, the 38-year-old actress and singer is finally speaking out about the show’s biggest secret. During a recent interview, she revealed her own thoughts on who she believes the father would have been if the series had continued. Her answer surprised many, as it went against popular fan theories that had circulated for years.
Hilary Duff Opens Up About the Show’s Sudden End
Duff recently appeared on the Mythical Kitchen “Last Meal” series, where she discussed the show’s unexpected cancelation while promoting her new music. She did not hold back her feelings about how the show ended.
“That was so sad that we got canceled during the strike. It was horrible,” Duff said. The show was canceled during the Hollywood labor disputes in 2023, leaving the cast and crew unable to properly wrap up the story.
For years, fans speculated about the identity of the father. The series introduced several potential candidates, including Suraj Sharma’s character Sid, Tom Ainsley’s character Charlie, and Christopher Lowell’s character Jesse. Many viewers believed the writers were setting up a long-term romance between Sophie and Sid, despite Sid being married in the show.
When asked about the popular theory that Sid was the father, Duff had an interesting reaction. “A lot of people said it was Suraj, and I was like ‘whoa, that’s a hot take,’” she said, noting that would have been a complicated storyline to write.
The Father Was Not Who Fans Expected
Duff then made a revealing statement about the show’s original plan. According to her, the father was never supposed to be one of the main characters that viewers had grown to love over the two seasons.
“I don’t think it was any of the people in the room. It was going to be like an extra walking by,” Duff explained. This directly challenges the show’s own pilot episode, where the older version of Sophie, played by Kim Cattrall, told her son that the father was in that room.
Duff clarified how this would have worked: “I know we started the season by being like, ‘The father of my child is in this room.’ But I don’t think it was any of the main characters. I think as the season progressed we would have zoomed in on an extra in the background, and it would’ve been that person later in life.”
This twist would have mirrored the original How I Met Your Mother in a clever way. That show introduced the mother, Cristin Milioti’s character Tracy McConnell, in the final season after fans had spent years guessing she was someone else.
A Joke About the Original Show’s Star
Before sharing her theory, Duff made a playful joke. When first asked who the father was, she responded, “I was just going to say Jason Segel.” Segel played Marshall Eriksen on the original How I Met Your Mother, which ran from 2005 to 2014.
The joke was likely a nod to the deep connection between the two shows. Several original cast members, including Cobie Smulders, Neil Patrick Harris, and Segel himself, had expressed interest in appearing on the spin-off before it was canceled.
Duff also joked that perhaps only Kim Cattrall knows the real answer. Cattrall played the future version of Sophie who narrated the story to her son, similar to how Bob Saget voiced the older Ted Mosby in the original series.
The Cancelation Left Many Questions Unanswered
How I Met Your Father debuted in January 2022. The show followed Sophie, a young woman in New York City, as she navigated dating and friendships. The cast also included Francia Raisa, Tien Tran, and other talented actors.
The show received mixed reviews but built a dedicated fanbase who appreciated its fresh take on the original concept. The second season ended on a cliffhanger, with viewers waiting to see how the story would unfold.
The cancelation in September 2023 came as a shock to the cast. The show had survived the initial industry shifts but ultimately fell victim to cost-cutting measures at Disney, Hulu’s parent company. The Writers Guild of America strike also played a role in delaying production and decisions about the show’s future.
Duff Moves Forward With New Music
Since the show ended, Duff has returned to her music career. She released her sixth studio album, Luck… or Something, on February 20, 2026. The album is her first in over a decade and has received positive responses from critics and fans.
The album touches on personal topics, including her family relationships. In a separate interview on the On Purpose With Jay Shetty podcast, Duff opened up about her estranged relationship with her parents and sister Haylie Duff. She explained that writing the album helped her process these difficult emotions.
Duff has also spoken about how she handles public scrutiny. In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, she addressed rumors about her involvement in a “toxic mom group” controversy involving Ashley Tisdale. Duff dismissed the claims, saying she has dealt with false stories since she was a teenager.
Where to Watch the Series
Even though the show ended without revealing the father, fans can still watch all 30 episodes of How I Met Your Father on Hulu in the United States. International viewers can find the series on Disney+ in many regions.
The original How I Met Your Mother is also available to stream on Hulu, giving new viewers a chance to discover where the story began.
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