Jennifer Aniston to star in ‘I’m Glad My Mom Died’, based on Jennette McCurdy’s memoir

Jennifer Aniston is expanding her creative empire at Apple TV+ in a bold and unexpected new direction. Best known on the platform for her Emmy-nominated role as Alex Levy in “The Morning Show,” Aniston is set to headline a dramedy series adaptation of “I’m Glad My Mom Died”, the wildly popular and emotionally raw memoir by Jennette McCurdy.

This new project marks a significant shift in tone for Aniston and an exciting evolution for Apple TV+.

A Bestseller Turned Breakthrough Series

Published in August 2022, McCurdy’s “I’m Glad My Mom Died “became an instant cultural lightning bolt. A deeply personal, darkly comedic memoir, it details the former child star’s journey through fame, trauma, and emotional liberation after growing up with a manipulative, overbearing mother.

The book struck a nerve. Not only did it top the New York Times Best Seller list, it stayed there for more than 80 weeks, a rare feat for any memoir, let alone one by a 30-year-old. The raw, confessional nature of McCurdy’s storytelling and biting humor made it a literary and pop culture phenomenon.

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Now, Apple TV+ is giving it the screen treatment it deserves. Aniston plays the narcissistic mother, a character that’s equal parts chilling, hilarious, and tragically real.

The Role of a Lifetime 

Jennifer Aniston is fully stepping into one of her career’s most complex and daring roles, a stage mom whose identity is wholly wrapped in her daughter’s fame. According to Apple TV+, the series will “center on the codependent relationship between an 18-year-old actress in a hit kids’ show and her domineering mother who relishes being known as ‘a starlet’s mom.'” In other words, this is no rom-com. It’s a layered dramedy exploring performance, power, and control.

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Aniston will also executive produce via her Echo Films banner, showing how personally invested she is in this project. Apple Studios is developing the 10-episode series, with McCurdy herself returning to the spotlight, this time behind the scenes. She’s writing, executive producing, and show-running the adaptation alongside Ari Katcher.

McCurdy’s creative fingerprints will be all over the show, ensuring the adaptation maintains the memoir’s singular tone.

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A stellar lineup of producers backs them, including Sharon Horgan and Stacy Greenberg for Merman (Bad Sisters), Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap team (Dani Gorin, Tom Ackerley, Josey McNamara), Jerrod Carmichael, and Erica Kay.

That’s an eclectic and boundary-pushing group, suggesting the series will blend emotional truth with edgy comedy and fearless storytelling.

Apple TV+ Is Betting Big on Bold Stories

With this new series, Apple TV+ doubles down on what it does best: smart, sophisticated originals with A-list talent and a distinctive point of view. From “Ted Lasso” to “Severance” to “Bad Sisters,” Apple’s becoming the go-to platform for stars who want to push their boundaries, and for audiences looking for something more than just another binge-watch.

Aniston’s continued partnership with Apple (including the upcoming Season 4 of “The Morning Show,” debuting September 17) signals that she sees the platform as a creative playground.

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If the series stays true to the memoir, viewers can expect something that won’t shy away from the ugly truths of child stardom, emotional abuse, and the quest for autonomy.