The new TV series based on the controversial 1992 film Romper Stomper could inflame racial tensions in Australia, a social worker has warned.
The series, which starts on January 1 on streaming service Stan, follows up themes in the movie, which famously depicted Russel Crowe as the leader of a neo-Nazi gang that terrorized Melbourne.
The film divided the country for it’s depiction of violence between the gang and Asian youths, with some critics saying it glorified the neo-Nazis.
The new series focuses on the rise of militant groups on the far-right and far-left, with Muslim Australians as the flash point, according to publicity material.
The controversial Romper Stomper (pictured) will be gracing our screens more than two decades after the original caused havoc
The new series (pictured) is expected to cause tension through racist slurs over Islam
A social worker said Romper Stomper (pictured) will expose us to a racist gang culture
The new series is a remake of the 1992 Romper Stomper (pictured) which showed a group of neo-Nazi skinheads who violently attacked Asian immigrants
One scene featured in a recent promotional video for the new series shows a bloody confrontation between far-right protesters waving Australian flags and left-wing extremists wearing hoodies and masks.
Melbourne social worker Les Twentyman has labelled the upcoming series as a ‘ticking time bomb’ which will have ‘massive implications exposing us to a gang culture’, according to The Herald Sun.
‘This movie legitimises extreme views. That is extremely dangerous. It is hotted up as art,’ Mr Twentyman told the publication.
The social worker shared to Twitter that the television series is a ‘racist piece of c***’.
‘Romper Stomper is the Klu Klux evolution in Melbourne, the modern day racist TV needs to be trashed [and] not be shown in world’s most livable city,’ Mr Twentyman wrote.
However, show producer John Edwards said he was surprised that people were calling to have the series axed because it explored real issues happening in current society.
‘I think this is to be viewed as a straightforward drama and you get it or you don’t,’ Mr Edwards told according to the publication.
‘We have been able to ask moral questions … everybody is in the right and everybody is in the wrong.’
‘This movie (pictured) legitimises extreme views. That is extremely dangerous. It is hotted up as art,’ social worker Les Twentyman said
Romper Stomper was a career turning point for Russell Crowe (pictured) who starred as a neo-Nazi skinhead
At the time, Romper Stomper (pictured) was criticised for glorifying extremists, with some movie critics refusing to review the film
The original film, set in Melbourne’s Footscray, highlighted white nationalism where the victims of the skinheads were Asian, in particular the Vietnamese.
At the time, Romper Stomper was criticised for glorifying extremists, with some movie critics refusing to review the film.
Full of violent and racist scenes, the new Stan series is thought to be as provocative as it was in the early ’90s.
Show producer John Edwards said he was surprised that people were calling to have the series (pictured) axed because it explored real issues happening in current society
Full of violent and racist scenes, the new Stan series is thought to be as provocative as it was in the early ’90s (Russell Crowe pictured)