‘How I Met Your Father’: Hilary Duff Welcomes an LGBTQ Twist in Season 2
The father of Sophie’s child in How I Met Your Father could be anyone — even Ellen. That’s according to star Hilary Duff, who recently spoke more about how she doesn’t know the identity of the father. She teased that How I Met Your Father Season 2, which Hulu greenlit back in February, could have an LGBTQ twist where Sophie ends up with Ellen. Here’s what Duff said, plus Ellen actor Tien Tran’s thoughts on her role in the show.
The ‘How I Met Your Father’ cast has no idea who the father is
How I Met Your Father follows Sophie (Duff), a 30-year-old woman living in New York in 2022. She experiences the trials and tribulations of modern dating while enjoying day-to-day shenanigans with her close group of friends. Meanwhile, in the future, an older version of Sophie (Kim Cattrall) tells her off-camera son the long story of how she met his father.
Much like fans, the How I Met Your Father cast doesn’t know the father’s identity. It could be anyone she met on the night of Sid (Suraj Sharma) and Hannah’s (Ashley Reyes) engagement party, including Sid. Jesse (Chris Lowell), Ian (Daniel Augustin), Charlie (Tom Ainsley), and Drew (Josh Peck) are also contenders. Or, it’s possible viewers haven’t even seen the father yet.
Everyone is eager to learn the truth, but Duff said she’s fine with not knowing for now.
“I’ve given up because [the writers are] just going to cat-and-mouse me, bat me around,” she told The New York Times. It’s actually kind of hard to navigate sometimes shooting because I have moments with all the guys [in the series]. … Everyone is a possibility. So I’ve given up guessing.”
Hilary Duff says she’s open to an LGBTQ twist with Sophie and Ellen in ‘How I Met Your Father’ Season 2
In a recent interview with Digital Spy, Suff spoke again about all the possibilities for who the father could be. Although it can feel frustrating not to have an answer, the former Disney star said she enjoys the fact that it could be anyone.
“I think that anyone can be The One. Every time I’m describing it, I’m like, we’re not The Bachelor because it’s not like that,” she explained. “But I think that there’s always some sort of an opportunity or, like, a need to leave a door open without seeming like you’re overstepping boundaries.”
Duff continued on to say that the father doesn’t necessarily need to be one of the guys in Sophie’s life. She expressed interest in seeing Sophie end up with Jesse’s sister, Ellen.
“I think her journey is, you know, the opportunity’s open with a lot of the cast,” Duff added. “Ellen is the father. Ellen has a rose ceremony. That would be awesome.”
Tien Tran admitted how ‘refreshing’ it feels to play Ellen
Ellen moved to New York City after she divorced her wife back in Iowa. She left her life as a produce farmer behind. She experienced her own dating struggles in season 1, having missed a few times in trying to pick up women. Ellen even landed herself in hot water with her new neighbor when she pretended to know her neighbor’s late grandmother in an effort to bond with her.
Tran spoke to Digital Spy about her How I Met Your Father character, noting how important it was to have an LGBTQ side to the story.
“It’s very exciting as a queer person in real life to get to play someone who’s queer, who’s part of the friend group, who doesn’t have to come out or have any sort of storylines that are based on her trauma,” Tran said. “It’s so refreshing, so cool, and also just like what life is like. Ellen is such a baby gay, which I find I was too, and it’s a very unique and also wonderful story to get to tell.”
Tran went on to say she appreciates how accepting the HIMYF friend group is.
“She is in New York City with her friends and going through the same trials and tribulations as the rest of her friend group,” Tran added. “Everyone is just loving and accepting of each other full stop.”
How I Met Your Father Season 1 is now streaming on Hulu. Stay tuned to Showbiz Cheat Sheet for updates on season 2.
