The Shane Warne telemovie, Warnie, is about to hit tv screens across the nation on Sunday evening amid a wave of controversy.
After a life spent largely within the highlight, the dramatisation of the Spin King’s vibrant life has drawn widespread criticism, together with from the Warne household itself.
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The backlash got here in thick and quick when the two-part telemovie was introduced by Channel 9 with Brooke Warne labelling it “beyond disrespectful”.
Friends and relations of the Aussie cricketing nice have been unimpressed with the community because the two-part collection was confirmed in July final 12 months.
Simone Callahan, Warne’s ex-wife, was the newest to hit out over the upcoming present saying it was “unkind and mean spirited” to be airing so near his passing.
The 52-year-old icon tragically died whereas on vacation in Thailand in March 2022 in news that left folks throughout the globe heartbroken.
But because the backlash poured in, the person who was solid to painting the best leg spinner cricket has ever seen wasn’t paying consideration.
Alex Williams remained locked in on his function attempting to emulate the Australian icon, placing the noise of contempt in his rearview mirror.
With the two-part telemovie to get underway on Sunday evening on Channel 9 from 7pm (AEST), Williams has a easy answer for many who consider the present is simply too near the passing of the spin magician.
“Once I read the script I knew immediately that it was made with love and was a celebration of his life,” Williams mentioned to news.com.au.
“Now I completely understand some people and there sensitivity around it being quite quick, I understand that.
“For those people who don’t feel like it’s time for them to watch it, then don’t watch it.
“But for a lot of people I feel like it’ll be a really nice reminder and a celebration of his life.”
While these near the late-great haven’t been the one ones essential of the present, Williams says the feedback from the household after seeing the present have been optimistic.
But he additionally mentioned the criticism that got here from all corners wasn’t a deterrent and there was no likelihood it was going to cease him from diving into the function and giving it his all.
“I just gave them (the family) space, production were in contact with the family and his management. Some of the family have seen it and have very positive things to say which is great,” he mentioned.
“That wasn’t going to affect my performance, I felt like there was enough resources out there for me to do what I wanted to do.”
Williams shot to fame together with his portrayal of Julian Assange within the 2012 movie Underground: The Julian Assange Story.
But it’s this function of taking part in a childhood hero that left him nervous and people nerves are effervescent away within the lead as much as the present going to air.
“Yeah, I mean, I am nervous … some people will love it, some people hate it,” Williams mentioned.
“I think a lot of people have their own real emotional connection where they feel like they know him.
“And if it’s not the Warnie that they feel like they know that might not work for them. But I think for a lot of people, they’ll learn something and it’ll be a nice little trip down memory lane.”
Having grown up a cricket fan, the chance to play one of many best Aussies to ever play the sport was a dream come true.
Williams threw himself into changing into like Warnie, from immediately hitting the nets after receiving the cellphone name to increase his physique to be extra just like the wicket taking supremo.
“I told my family and then went straight down to the nets,” Williams mentioned.
“I’m not pretending to be an athlete but I play a lot of sport so I thought it was something I could emulate.
“I worked with Bryce McGain down in Melbourne for a long time. Not only did he really help me with that sort of trigger action and release but also with the mentality and the intensity while standing at the top of the mark.”
Warne highlights are unfold far and broad, however no second was ever larger than his supply to dismiss Mike Gatting. The wicket was dubbed ‘the ball of the century’ and it was the second Williams cherished filming probably the most.
“I loved filming the Gatting ball. You know it’s going to cut to archival (footage of the delivery), but it felt very good (getting to re-enact it).
“What I also really enjoyed in the script when I first read it was that there was a little bit of magical realism.
“It kind of expands those moments and kind of captures people’s imaginations even more so, because when you watch his highlights some of them just look like magic.
“Some of them look like they shouldn’t happen, so for the show to expand on that I found that really, really fun.”
The two-part telemovie on the extraordinary lifetime of Shane Warne will air on Sunday and Monday evening with half 1 of Warnie airing Sunday evening from 7pm (AEST) on Channel 9.
Source: www.news.com.au
