The new Hulu series “How I Met Your Father” stars Hilary Duff as Sophie, a woman maneuvering through the dating scene and life with her close friends. Director and Executive Producer Pam Fryman told the media in a virtual press conference, “This is not ‘How I Met Your Mother.’ And I loved ‘How I Met Your Mother.’ This is ‘How I Met Your Father,’ and it is so spectacular in its own right.” And Duff explained, “I think it’s important to know that we are our own show.”

“I am so attracted to parts that are extremely relatable,” said Duff. “This one happens to touch on just trying to find love in this world that we live in with all the options that there are and how hard it is to meet someone face-to-face. And the fact that she has this lovely friend circle that, kind of, comes together in a strange way, it was all just really attractive to me.”

Duff is extremely excited to be part of this show. She explained that her character is representative of single women everywhere who are maneuvering through life with their expectations and goals.

“It’s brutal out there, and just having the support system of your friends,” she said about Sophie’s close friendships. “But we all are this tight-knit group of friends and just relying on the people that you love and having the experiences in your early 30s. I think, probably, Sophie isn’t quite where she thought she would be, and she’s just flailing a little bit. And everyone around her is helping boost her up, not that she’s down and out by any means, but she’s just navigating.”

Duff, the former Disney Channel star, is coming off a seven-season run starring in ‘Younger.’ She’s transitioning from a role as the 20-something best friend to the main character. The two things the shows have in common? The setting and the friendship.

“I love that New York City is a big part of this show. It helps it move very quickly. And as you get more into the character, it’s not just about Sophie’s story. We are diving into each one of these characters, and we are watching these bonds happen. The show is really about friendship and just the fact that Sophie is very effervescent and it’s hard to really get her down. She kind of keeps getting knocked, and she just keeps trying, and so it’s a feel-good show at the same time.”

Fryman also worked on “How I Met Your Mother” and is thrilled with how this new series has shaped up. The original series ran on CBS for nine seasons detailing a man’s journey — played by Josh Radnor — navigating relationships, friendships, job struggles and more in telling his children how he, as the title says, met their mother.

“There were things that I did on that show that I never imagined I would do, so definitely not. But what’s so great about ‘How I Met Your Father,’ it’s the same thing. Every script brings more fascinating things that I get to dig into that I never imagined I would and with all of these people and going outside and shooting and being in crazy places. It’s all just so exciting, and it certainly keeps my interest as a director.”

So even though this is a different show, there are similarities, which will appeal to fans of the old series and bring in new fans, especially those who have adored Duff since her time as a Disney star. “How I Met Your Father” began streaming on Hulu on Tuesday.

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