Greta Gerwig, who indie-movie connoisseurs know as the co-writer and star of "Frances Ha," will take on a decidedly different challenge when she jumps into the lead of CBS' "How I Met Your Mother" spin-off, "How I Met Your Dad." Gerwig will produce and potentially write the pilot, which tells a similar non-related story to "HIMYM," but from a female perspective.

What's most surprising about this news, other than Gerwig using her star-on-the-rise to snag a role in a mainstream sitcom is that she's essentially playing the same part she did in "Frances Ha."

The character description of Sally, her role, is that she's, "a female Peter Pan who has never grown up and has no idea of where she's going in life." In "Frances Ha," Gerwig plays Frances, a flighty, not-so-great dancer who has never grown up and has no idea of where she's going in life.

With that in mind, Gerwig is going to need a supporting cast to help her out... And if executive producers Carter Bays and Craig Thomas can snag Gerwig, why couldn't they snag other buzzed-about actors and actresses?

Oscar Isaac: The "Inside Llewyn Davis" star has a number of projects in the works, but like Gerwig, he's never quite broken through into the mainstream. Since "HIMYD" is set in New York like its sitcom sibling, why not have Isaac play a down-on-his-luck folk singer who just can't seem to catch a break? Named Llewyn Davis?

Barkhad Abdi: The "Captain Phillips" co-star has been nominated for an Oscar, but we don't see too many plum roles in his future (at least yet). Adding him to the cast as a Somali pirate would be a great addition to the roster, and really distance the show from its forebear. We can just see him staring at Gerwig, saying, "Look at me. Look at me. I'm the father now."

June Squibb: Squibb has already appeared extensively on TV shows ranging from "Judging Amy," to "Girls." It's time Squibb-nation, her fanbase we just made up, got to see the Squibbster on the regs in a weekly series. Cast her as Gerwig's older downstairs neighbor who doles out advice. You could call her, "June Squibb." Or something. We're just spitballing. Or Squibballing, as Squibb-nation calls it.

Shia LaBeouf: The no-longer-famous movie star could play Gerwig's weird neighbor with a bag on his head, continuing his art-project/cry for attention. And if LaBeouf drops out of the project, you can replace him with literally anybody. Because he has a bag on his head.

Nathan Fielder: The Comedy Central prankster is all the rage with his Dumb Starbucks stunt. Since we're pretty sure this whole spin-off has to be a joke anyway, have Fielder play himself in the show. Maybe Dumb Starbucks could be the "HIMYD" version of MacLaren's Pub, the hangout from "HIMYM?"

Who do you think should be cast in "How I Met Your Dad?" Let us know on Twitter @MTVNews, or in the comments below.