Earlier this year, Harris said in an episode of the behind-the-scenes podcast How We Made Your Mother that he’d often felt “insecure” playing the swaggering part and was worried he didn’t “nail” his scenes. 

But, he added, “that insecurity absolutely played into the bravado” required.

“I’ve always felt Barney was kind of broken,” he explained. 

“He wore armour. The suit was armour. He hid sincerity and vulnerability behind bravado because that’s how he survived.”

Neil also previously discussed reprising his role with Hilary Duff, who starred in spinoff How I Met Your Father, suggesting he wouldn’t play Barney again unless he seriously changed his ways. 

“Barney’s antics, his overt delusions of grandeur, would likely get everyone in trouble. So, unless he’s changed his ways or joined a nunnery (insert an insert joke here), not sure if it’s in anyone’s best interest,” he said in his Wondercade newsletter, to which Hilary replied: “I’m pretty sure Barney would… be in jail in 2022.”