‘How I Met Your Dad’ casts Greta Gerwig as its lead -- and there's a twist!

The upcoming "How I Met Your Mother" spinoff, "How I Met Your Dad," is building momentum -- especially now that that Golden Globe nominee Greta Gerwig has just been cast as the series' main character. If the series gets picked up past its pilot, she'll also act as a producer and will write, too. (So that's what you get for being so great in "Frances Ha," Ms. Gerwig.)
But don't expect a carbon copy of "How I Met Your Mother," because the creators have a bit of a twist in mind.

This is what we know about "How I Met Your Dad" so far: the brainchild of "How I Met Your Mother's" Carter Bays, Craig Thomas, along with Emily Spivey, the series will revolve around Sally (Gerwig), an adult woman who hasn't really grown up, and whose life is a mess. Very similar to

"How I Met Your Mother" in that respect.

But unlike "How I Met Your Mother," Sally is already married -- and realizes early on that it isn't working, and that she wants out. That's when she turns to her friends and family, who are ready and willing to dish out (sometimes not-so-great) advice. So as you may have guessed, this series will be from an entirely female point of view.

This already corrects a few of the mistakes that began plaguing "How I Met Your Mother" as the series went on. While Robin (Colbie Smulders) and Lily (Alyson Hannigan) are relatively complex, interesting characters, Ted (Josh Radnor) became increasingly whiny as the series progressed, constantly complaining about women and dating -- making it hard to root for him, since he arguably become a victim of his own circumstance. (That's not to say that the other characters were perfect -- we've argued before that everyone on the show got worse as "How I Met Your Mother" got older.)

The twist of Sally already being married makes "How I Met Your Dad" seem fresh. Because the character has that experience behind her, she can get her life together with less of a focus on finding somebody, and more of an emphasis on finding herself. On "How I Met Your Mother," Ted never seemed to develop in that sense (unlike Barney, who evolved out of being a womanizing man-boy, and Marshall, who learned the ins and outs of being a good partner to Lily.) Ultimately, unlike its predecessor, "How I Met Your Dad" can make its main character somebody you champion, as opposed to somebody you can't believe has friends.

Hopefully, the series can right a few other "How I Met Your Mother" wrongs. Case in point: despite the talent attached, we can only pray "How I Met Your Dad" leaves audiences wanting more, and not wanting to leave. It's taken almost nine years to meet Ted's future wife, and by now it feels more like a "duty" to tune in than it does an exciting wrap up to a good nine years. Sure, "How I Met Your Mother" earned consistent ratings, but to drag out a premise that hangs specifically on meeting one additional character for nearly a decade is exhausting.
And anyway, sitcoms have changed since the show's 2005 premiere. Sitcoms like "New Girl" and

"The Mindy Project" prove just how accessible female perspective is, and that her entire mandate doesn't need to be about getting a boyfriend -- it can be about succeeding at work, getting comfortable with who you are, and making friendships in the process. (Unlike "How I Met Your Mother," which was all about one man searching for a wife.)

Let's be real, here: we just can't watch another show about a group of friends supporting their single friend on his or her quest for love. "How I Met Your Mother" already told that story. "How I Met Your Dad" should expand its focus -- and with the addition of somebody like Gerwig, it can be a telling and entertaining series that eclipses the show that started it all.
Watch the trailer for Greta Gerwig's Golden Globe-nominated film, "Frances Ha":