Channel Nine has entered ‘crisis’ talks over a new Shane Warne telemovie, after the cricketing legend’s family spoke out against the ‘disrespectful’ project.
Warne’s former manager James Erskine met with the network’s director of television Michael Healy and head of drama Andy Ryan on Thursday on behalf of the family, The Herald Sun reported on Friday.
‘They both guaranteed me that this was going to be a celebration of Shane Warne. I trust them, I trust Healy,’ Erskine told the newspaper.
Channel Nine has entered ‘crisis’ talks over a new Shane Warne (pictured) telemovie, after the cricketing legend’s family spoke out against the ‘disrespectful’ project
‘Now we know Shane was a colourful character, you can’t get away from that. You can’t sanitise it and suddenly say he is a clergyman’ he said.
‘But they have assured me it will be done appropriately. At the end of the day if they do a hatchet job, then the whole world will be watching.’
It comes after Warne’s eldest daughter called Channel Nine’s announcement of a telemovie based on the cricket great, just months after he died, ‘beyond disrespectful’.
Warne’s former manager James Erskine met with the network’s director of television Michael Healy and head of drama Andy Ryan on Thursday on behalf of the family, The Herald Sun reported on Friday. Pictured with his children
Brooke Warne, 24, wrote on her Instagram story on Wednesday night asking the network’s bosses: ‘Do any of you have any respect for Dad? Or his family?’
‘(He) did so much for Channel Nine and now you want to dramatise his life and our family’s life 6 months after he passed away? You are beyond disrespectful,’ she continued.
The network has billed the production titled ‘Warnie’ as a ‘must-see drama event’ that will be shown over two-nights.
Warne’s eldest daughter called Channel Nine’s announcement of a telemovie based on the cricket great, just months after he died, ‘beyond disrespectful’. Brooke Warne, (right) wrote: ‘Do any of you have any respect for Dad? Or his family?’
‘This will be the fitting tribute to one of the greatest Australians of all time, the Aussie larrikin who lived and loved large,’ the network wrote.
‘Shane Warne was an Aussie legend, a cultural icon, a cricketing genius, a charmer and a rogue. ‘Warnie’ transcended cricket.
‘Like all great characters, he inspired extreme reactions from people from all walks of life, in Australia and around the world.’
‘(He) did so much for Channel Nine and now you want to dramatise his life and our family’s life 6 months after he passed away? You are beyond disrespectful,’ she continued
Production on the biopic reportedly got under way just three weeks after the Spin King’s death, from natural causes aged 52, in Thailand in March.
Casting for the role of Warne has already been going on in Sydney for months.
An unknown actor is understood to have landed the starring role while producers are still looking to fill the roles of Warne’s ex-wife Simone Callahan and ex-girlfriend, actress Liz Hurley.
The network has billed the production titled ‘Warnie’ as a ‘must-see drama event’ that will be shown over two-nights
Warne spent 23 years as a commentator for the network’s cricket coverage and had close ties with former owners Kerry and James Packer and ex-CEO David Gyngell.
The cricketer’s manager and friend James Erskine said in June when word of the production first leaked that he would be writing to Channel Nine chairman Peter Costello asking for an explanation.
‘Why would Nine even go there? It’s a disgrace and I will certainly be making my voice heard,’ he said.
The cricket legend’s former girlfriend Liz Hurley (left) is understood to be a character in the film
Brooke Warne posted an emotional tribute to her late father Shane to mark what would have been his 53rd birthday on Tuesday.
She wrote alongside a series of images, ‘Happy Birthday Dad. Today will always be Your day. I love you and I miss you.’
Shane welcomed Brooke and his two other children, Jackson and Summer, during his 10-year marriage to model Simone Callahan.
On what would have been Shane’s 53rd birthday on Tuesday, Brooke shared a picture of the two of them together on a train as a kid (pictured)
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