Jennifer Aniston Joins I’m Glad My Mom Died TV Adaptation
Published On: July 2, 2025.
Jennette McCurdy’s memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died has become a cultural touchstone, offering a raw and unflinching look at the complexities of fame, family, and self-discovery. Now, this bestselling 2022 memoir is being adapted into a 10-episode dramedy series for Apple TV+, with Jennifer Aniston set to star and executive produce. McCurdy herself will serve as showrunner and co-writer, collaborating with Ari Katcher.
The memoir chronicles McCurdy’s tumultuous childhood and adolescence, marked by her overbearing and emotionally abusive mother, Debra McCurdy. Raised in a strict Mormon household in Southern California, McCurdy was introduced early to the idea that her purpose was to fulfill her mother’s dreams, particularly the dream of fame. Her mother, a cancer survivor, weaponized her illness to manipulate McCurdy, framing herself as a martyr while exerting total control over her daughter’s life. McCurdy never wanted to act, but her mother relentlessly pushed her into child stardom, coercing her into auditions and grooming her to be “camera-ready” at all times.
The upcoming series aims to dramatize this complex and often painful relationship. Aniston will portray a fictionalized version of McCurdy’s mother, described as a “narcissistic” figure who “relishes in her identity as ‘a starlet’s mother.’” The show will focus on the codependent dynamics between an 18-year-old actress in a hit kids’ show and her domineering mother.
McCurdy has expressed that the adaptation is a way to honor her younger self and to give voice to her experiences. She has previously spoken publicly about her mother’s emotional abuse and the complicated dynamics of her family life, topics that are central to the memoir and the upcoming series.
The memoir has been met with widespread acclaim, spending over 80 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list and selling more than three million copies as of July 2025. Critics have praised McCurdy’s candid and darkly humorous writing, with Publishers Weekly calling the book “Insightful and incisive, heartbreaking and raw,” and Kirkus Reviews describing it as “The heartbreaking story of an emotionally battered child delivered with captivating candor and grace.”
The adaptation of I’m Glad My Mom Died into a television series represents a significant moment in McCurdy’s career. After stepping away from acting in 2017, she has found a new voice as a writer and director. The series not only brings her personal story to a wider audience but also underscores her evolution from child star to a creator telling her own narrative on her terms.
As the series progresses through production, audiences can anticipate a poignant exploration of the complexities of mother-daughter relationships, the challenges of growing up in the spotlight, and the journey toward self-empowerment. With Aniston’s involvement and McCurdy’s creative leadership, the adaptation promises to be a compelling addition to the landscape of television storytelling.
For those interested in delving deeper into McCurdy’s story, the memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died is available in bookstores and online platforms. The Apple TV+ series is expected to premiere in the coming months, offering a visual and emotional complement to the powerful narrative McCurdy has already shared in her book.