Jennifer Aniston is set to take on a dramatic new role as she stars in a forthcoming Apple TV+ series inspired by Jennette McCurdy's bestselling memoir I'm Glad My Mom Died. The 10-episode dramedy, announced by Apple, will see Aniston portray a character modelled after McCurdy's domineering and emotionally abusive mother.
The series, which has yet to receive an official title, will explore the complex and toxic dynamic between a teenage actress and her narcissistic mother. Apple described the show as centring on 'the codependent relationship between an 18-year-old actress in a hit kids' show, and her narcissistic mother who relishes her identity as "a starlet's mother".'
Aniston, best known for her roles in Friends and The Morning Show, will also serve as an executive producer on the series. This marks another collaboration between the actress and the streaming platform, with season four of The Morning Show set to premiere on 17 September 2025.
Jennette McCurdy, who rose to fame on Nickelodeon's iCarly and Sam & Cat, co-wrote the series alongside producer Ari Katcher. Both will act as showrunners and executive producers. Additional producers include Sharon Horgan, Jerrod Carmichael and Tom Ackerley, among others.
Published in August 2022, McCurdy's memoir quickly became a New York Times No. 1 bestseller and spent more than 80 weeks on the list. The book details her traumatic childhood and career in the spotlight, shaped by a controlling mother who imposed harsh restrictions and unrealistic expectations.
'With my mother's death, I'd go from being so, so deeply angry to then feeling just so sorry for her,' McCurdy told the Associated Press in 2022. 'Abusive love is so complicated. It's going to be mixed and messy.'
The memoir, praised for its raw honesty and dark humour, recounts years of physical, emotional and mental abuse, from enforced calorie counting to career manipulation. McCurdy began therapy following her mother's death from cancer in 2013, which allowed her to process years of unresolved trauma.
Casting has not yet been announced for the role of the teenage actress at the centre of the story. Apple described the character as 18 years old and involved in a popular children's programme, similar to McCurdy's own early career.
Aniston's involvement is expected to bring additional star power and attention to the project, which blends biting satire with emotional weight. The series is anticipated to push boundaries while offering a nuanced portrayal of complicated mother-daughter relationships in the entertainment industry.
A release date has not yet been confirmed.
