‘How I Met Your Father’ release date: Pilot delayed as writers Aptaker and Berger take a new job

CBS’ “How I Met Your Mother” spinoff series has been delayed for an indefinite period. Writers Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger have just been promoted as showrunners of the hit TV series “This is Us.” This is what has put the show “on the back burner,” reportedly.

The “HIMYM” spinoff series, “How I Met Your Father,” is currently not linked with any network. It is also Aptaker and Berger’s second attempt at creating a spinoff of the original series. The previous spinoff was a TV movie called “How I Met Your Dad.” A pilot featuring Greta Gerwig in the lead was although filmed but never released.

“We have an extraordinary track record of retooling shows,” CBS executive Nina Tassler said in a statement, per Entertainment Weekly at that time. “We tried to reach out and engage them about redoing the pilot, but that it’s just not happening.” She further said that such issues were normal and they usually resolve themselves. But they haven’t yet, she added.

Jonathan Davis, creative affairs president at 20th Century Fox, talked about Aptaker and Berger’s new role with “This is Us.” "Isaac and Elizabeth are incredible talents who write with such passion and emotion; their voices are bold and original and the contribution they’ve made to This Is Us this year has been extraordinary,” Davis said in a statement, quoted the Hollywood Reporter. “They are hugely valuable to Dan and to everyone at this studio, and we are thrilled that they will showrun alongside him next season as well as remain in the studio family for years to come,” he added.

The writer duo Aptaker and Berger had started writing the new pilot for “How I Met Your Father” in late 2016. Carter Bays and Craig Thomas were assigned as the spinoff’s new executive producers, according to Entertainment Weekly. Cast for the new version as well as timeline for its development is yet to be announced.

Aptaker and Berger had until now served as co-executive producers and writers of the NBC hit show “This is Us.” The show follows the story of a couple, Jack and Rebecca Pearson, and their three siblings Kate, Kevin and Randall as their lives intertwine. The episodes weave through the stories of the past and present of the characters, with most scenes taking place in the '80s and early '90s.

“How I Met Your Father” is not expected to arrive until next year. Rest assured, IBT AU will return with follow-ups on further developments in the “HIMYM” spinoff.