Jason Segel to Exit HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER?

TVGuide.com reports that Jason Segel, star of the popular CBS comedy HOW I MET YOUR MTOHER, may be leaving the series after the upcoming eighth season. The actor was quoted on an Austrian website explaining that he wants to pursue other roles before he gets forever pegged as a Mr. Nice Guy. "I've been playing the nice guy for quite a long time now," the actor said. "That's why I'm gonna quit How I Met Your Mother after the eighth season." Segel portrays Marshall Eriksen on the CBS comedy. 

A representative for the actor issued a statement on the report saying:"Perhaps something got lost in translation, but Season 9 hasn't even been addressed yet."

Earlier this week it was reported that CBS was in negotiations to insure the sitcom would return for a ninth season. CBS exec Nina Tassler commented,  "We're in early conversations, and we're pretty optimistic," she said. She added that co-creators/co-executive producers Carter Bays and Craig Thomas have a "very strategic wrap-up" to Mother, which is entering its eighth season this year, and they know that CBS wants the show to return. "[But] we're not there yet."

The eighth season of HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER premieres Monday, Sept. 24 at 8/7c on CBS. On that date, The How I Met Your Mother soundtrack, featuring original songs from the show, will be released on iTunes.

Photo courtesy of CBS