Neil Patrick Harris portrayed the unforgettable character of Barney Stinson on ‘How I Met Your Mother’ in 2013. The casting process for the show took some unexpected turns before it even hit the airwaves.
On a recent episode of the podcast ‘How We Made Your Mother,’ hosts Josh Radnor and co-creator Craig Thomas were joined by the series’ other creator, Carter Bays. They discussed the journey of bringing the series from pitch to screen, shedding light on the casting process.
Bays revealed that four out of the five main characters were inspired by real people, with Ted based on Bays himself, Marshall on Thomas, and Lily on Thomas’ wife, Rebecca. The character of Barney Stinson, brought to life by Neil Patrick Harris, was influenced by larger-than-life personalities the creators encountered in New York.
Despite initial expectations for a physically imposing actor like Jack Black or Vince Vaughn to play Barney, Harris impressed the team with his audition. Similarly, Cobie Smulders’ casting as Robin, the only entirely fictional character, was a pivotal decision that favored lesser-known actors to maintain the element of surprise in the show.
Radnor and Thomas reflected on the casting process, with Radnor being identified by the casting director as the perfect fit for Ted before any auditions took place. This foresight proved correct as Radnor’s audition solidified his role in the series.
‘How I Met Your Mother’ premiered in 2005 and garnered a dedicated fan base throughout its run, thanks in part to the memorable performances of its talented cast.
The reason for the cast reunion was that Radnor’s wife, clinical psychologist Jordana Jacobs, had never watched the series. Radnor shared his thoughts on the show, saying, “I’m somewhat puzzled by the intense passion it elicits from its fans, and I simply wanted to reexamine it with Craig after all these years and view it through a more mature perspective with my friend. I also wanted to engage with others and listen to fans.” Find the original article on People’s website.
