Alex Williams, the Australian actor who played Julian Assange in the 2012 TV movie Underground: The Julian Assange Story, has been cast in the lead role of Shane Warne in the controversial Channel Nine miniseries Warnie.
Photos taken on set Tuesday showed Williams in full character walking alongside actress Marny Kennedy, who plays his ex-wife Simone Callahan.
Production began this week in Melbourne on the two-part drama.
Alex Williams, left, has been cast in the lead role of Shane Warne in the controversial Channel Nine miniseries Warnie
It comes less than two months after nine executives were reportedly in ‘crisis talks’ over the project, which the cricketing legend’s family had publicly called ‘disrespectful’.
Warne’s former manager James Erskine met with network television executive Michael Healy and drama chief Andy Ryan in September on the family’s behalf.
“They both guaranteed me it would be a celebration of Shane Warne. I trust them, I trust Healy,’ Erskine told the Herald Sun.
The Australian actor is best known for playing Julian Assange (pictured) in Underground: The Julian Assange Story
Photos taken on set on Tuesday showed Williams in full character walking alongside actress Marny Kennedy, who plays his ex-wife Simone Callahan
“Now we know Shane was a colorful character, you can’t live without it.” You can’t sanitize him and suddenly say he’s a clergyman.
“But they assured me it would be done appropriately. In the end, if they do ax work, the whole world will be watching.
Shane’s eldest daughter Brooke, 24, previously called Nine’s announcement of a TV movie based on her father “beyond disrespectful”.
‘Do any of you have any respect for dad? Or his family? she wrote on Instagram.
Warne’s eldest daughter called Channel Nine’s announcement of a TV movie based on the great cricket, just months after his death, “beyond disrespectful”. Brooke Warne, (right) wrote: ‘Do any of you have any respect for dad? Or his family?
“He did so much for Channel Nine and now you want to dramatize his life and that of our family six months after his death? You are beyond disrespect.
According to Nine, 9Network and Screentime met with the Warne family during pre-production and they have since changed their tune and are now supporting the series.
“9Network looks forward to collaborating with the family as filming continues,” Nine said in a statement.
The network billed the production, titled Warnie, as a “must-see dramatic event” that will air over two nights.
“It will be the fitting tribute to one of the greatest Australians of all time, the Aussie larrikin who lived and loved large,” a Nine spokesperson said.
Actress Marny Kennedy plays Warnie’s ex-wife, Simone Callahan
“Shane Warne was an Australian legend, cultural icon, cricketing genius, charmer and hoodlum. “Warnie” transcended cricket.
“Like all great characters, he inspired extreme reactions from people from all walks of life, in Australia and around the world.”
Production on the biopic reportedly began just three weeks after Spin King died of natural causes in March at the age of 52.
Nine revealed her stellar cast for the miniseries, with Marny Kennedy (Between Two Worlds, Janet King) as Simone Callahan.
An Australian actress will play Warne’s ex-girlfriend Liz Hurley (pictured)
It is believed to be newcomer Shanti Kali (pictured)
The biopic also stars Anthony Hayes (Gold, Light Between Oceans) and supports, including Jacquie Brennan, Jeremy Stanford, Ben Hall, Tom Stokes, Darcy Kent and newcomer Shanti Kali.
An unknown actor is said to have landed the lead role, while an actress playing Warne’s ex-girlfriend, Liz Hurley, is also set to appear in the TV movie.
Warne spent 23 years as a commentator for Nine’s cricket coverage and had close ties to former owners Kerry and James Packer and former CEO David Gyngell.
Warne (pictured in 2005) spent 23 years as a commentator for Nine’s cricket coverage and had close ties to former owners Kerry and James Packer and former CEO David Gyngell
