Why Hollywood Won’t Cast Alyson Hannigan Anymore

It wasn’t too long ago when Alyson Hannigan was a familiar face everywhere. Her breakout role in “Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” Michelle in “American Pie” franchise and her iconic Lily Aldrin and “How I Met Your Mother.” However, ever since 2014, Hannigan seemed to disappear from the spotlight.

Major roles have been harder to come by since her heyday in Hollywood. So, what happened? There are several reasons why Alyson Hannigan has mostly faded from the scene. 

Here’s why Hollywood doesn’t cast her much anymore.

She never got a chance to show off her range

In “Buffy,” Hannigan played Willow Rosenberg, a shy teen computer geek who evolves into a powerful witch (with occasionally questionable judgment). She often delivered witty commentary on everything from Buffy’s latest relationship to the gender norms she and her girlfriend Tara (Amber Benson) helped redefine.

In “How I Met Your Mother,” she portrayed Lily Aldrin, an artistic teacher whose relationship with Marshall Eriksen (Jason Segel) contrasts with Ted Mosby’s (Josh Radnor) perpetual search for love. She became the humorous voice of a seasoned spouse, often poking fun at the overly serious Ted’s quest to find his future children’s mother.

Given her long-standing presence in these iconic TV roles, it can be challenging to rebrand Hannigan as a movie star rather than a beloved TV actress. And maybe that’s why, it would take hours to name an Alyson Hannigan movie apart from American Pie.

Her TV shows ran for way too long

“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” ran for seven seasons across two networks, and “How I Met Your Mother” lasted an impressive nine seasons. While both shows are beloved, even die-hard fans might admit they could have benefited from wrapping up a couple of seasons earlier.

Because Alyson Hannigan played the same two characters for so many years, some Hollywood execs likely feel it’s tough for audiences to see past Willow and Lily. Hannigan will always be associated with these roles, which is both a blessing and a curse. They made her famous and secured her place in pop culture history, but they might have also limited her career opportunities.

Her public image has completely changed

Like many of her “Buffy” and “American Pie” castmates, Alyson Hannigan was initially packaged as something of a sex symbol. Though she posed for a few glamorous photo shoots, she never seemed all that enthusiastic about playing up that aspect of her image in public.

In fact, all that attention likely influenced how Hannigan revamped her image after becoming a mom. No one stays in the spotlight for their youthful allure forever, but for fans who remember Hannigan for her geeky sex appeal in those early roles, her more mature persona might be a tougher sell.

She’s still milking her old roles

Alyson Hannigan remains closely tied to her past roles due to the enduring power of fandom. Even though “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” ended in 2003, dedicated fans have kept the show alive through fan fiction and comic conventions worldwide.

Hannigan and her husband are particularly popular figures on the sci-fi convention circuit, regularly appearing at events like the Phoenix Comicon. Fans eagerly seek autographs and photos with their beloved “Buffy” characters, further solidifying Hannigan’s association with genre-based roles. This strong connection to her genre roots makes it challenging to rebrand her for roles outside of this niche, such as in traditional dramas or other non-genre films.

Her next big thing after How I Met Your Mother never happened

Starring in a TV pilot that doesn’t get picked up isn’t uncommon in Hollywood, but for Alyson Hannigan, “More Time with Family” was a project she truly believed in. Penned by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, Hannigan was initially prepared to take a break until she read the script and found it irresistible.

“I was fully prepared to take a break, until I read the script and it was too good to pass up,” Hannigan told Variety, expressing her enthusiasm. The sitcom was even filmed on the same stage as “How I Met Your Mother,” but this time in front of a live studio audience, fulfilling a long-held wish for Hannigan.

Despite her passion and the promising setup, the network ultimately passed on the show, which undoubtedly came as a significant disappointment for her.

She’s getting back into the game as Disney’s resident mom

Alyson Hannigan is far from done with television. While her initial ventures didn’t quite pan out as hoped, she’s continued to pursue roles on the small screen. Following the setback of “Man of the House,” Hannigan found success with the true crime TV movie “Abducted: The Mary Stauffer Story,” where she played the lead role, and had a two-episode stint on WGN America’s “Pure.”

In recent years, Hannigan has transitioned into playing mother roles, a shift that aligns with her age and experience. This shift became evident in 2019 when she starred as Dr. Ann Possible, Kim Possible’s mother, in the Disney Channel Original Movie “Kim Possible.” She continued in a similar vein in 2021 with another Disney production for Disney+, playing Phyllis Buckman, a romance novelist and mother of a comic book-loving child in the superhero dramedy “Flora & Ulysses.” The series received a solid 72% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Additionally, Hannigan voices Claire Clancy, the mother of the titular character in the animated Disney series “Fancy Nancy.”

If Disney needs a mom, it’s clear that Hannigan is their go-to choice. Her recent roles showcase her versatility and enduring appeal in family-friendly television, marking a new phase in her career that’s focused on portraying maternal figures with charm and wit.

She spoke out against the How I Met Your Mother finale

While the “How I Met Your Mother” series finale wasn’t a complete disaster, fans were left puzzled by the decision to have perpetual bachelor Barney marry Robin, only for them to divorce three years later so she could end up with Ted. Apparently, Alyson Hannigan shared this confusion.

In an interview with news.com.au, Hannigan expressed her wish for a two-hour series finale to include many “vital” cut scenes she felt were necessary for the audience. She explained, “They needed that time to process that information, instead of having it slap them in the face.”

Despite this, Hannigan spoke fondly of her time on the show, saying she would “do it again in a heartbeat” and describing it as “just pure, lovely fun.” She even broke down in tears on The View when asked what she’ll miss about working with Jason Segel.