Shane Warne’s family met producers of a TV miniseries over their concerns about the portrayal of the legendary cricketer, but they will await the final product before passing judgment.
Children of the much-loved spin king, who died in Thailand in March aged just 52, were dismayed this year after confirmation an unauthorised two-part telemovie about Warne’s life was in the works.
Jackson, Summer and Brooke Warne in front of the Shane Warne Stand at the MCG this week.Credit:Getty Images
In a social media post in September, Warne’s eldest daughter Brooke Warne described the Channel Nine production as “beyond disrespectful”.
Warnie, set to be screened over two nights, has since been confirmed as a feature of the network’s 2023 scheduling line-up. Nine is the owner of this masthead.
This week Brooke Warne confirmed the family had met producers, but said: “We’ll see what happens when it comes out.”
Filming of the telemovie, billed by Nine as the “must-see drama event of 2023”, has been completed with the miniseries in the post-production phase.
A Nine spokesperson said the network and the company producing Warnie, Screentime, had been collaborating with the family.
“During pre-production, the Nine Network and Screentime met with the Warne family, who have offered their support for the series,” the spokesperson said.
“The Nine Network looks forward to collaborating with the family as production continues.”
There will be tributes aplenty to Warne this Australian cricket summer, including at the first Boxing Day Test played at the MCG since his death.
His children – Brooke, Jackson and Summer – were beaming with pride at the MCG on Thursday night as the Australian sporting great and legendary cricketer with 708 Test wickets was posthumously elevated to legend status in the Sports Australia Hall of Fame.
Jackson Warne speaks to David Boon at the memorial for Shane Warne.Credit:Clinton Plowman/Flash Studio
“It’s very special to be here tonight,” Brooke Warne told The Age and Sydney Morning Herald.
“Obviously we wish he was here. And it’s not the same. And he should be receiving the award and getting all the praise, but we’ll be able to do that for him tonight.”
Asked about the looming biopic about her father’s life, Brooke Warne confirmed they had met the producers but didn’t elaborate further.
“We had a meeting with them and, you know, what’s done is done. So we’ll see what happens when it comes out,” she said.
Brooke Warne recalled with fondness the night her father was first named in the hall of fame in 2009.
“I still remember 10, 12 years ago now when we came along when he first got into the hall of fame and we were all so excited for it,” she said.
“I can still remember all of us getting ready. He was so excited because he was so happy to be able to bring his kids to something – to be recognised for all of his achievements.”
At Thursday night’s ceremony in Melbourne where retired tennis star Ash Barty received The Don Award – given to the athlete deemed to have most inspired the nation – Warne’s children proudly received the plaque recognising his new status.
“Our dad was our hero. We are so thrilled that all of his sacrifices in life have finally paid off,” Brooke Warne told the crowd.
“Unfortunately his job took him away from us for most of our childhood to perform for all of the world (instead) doing what he did best – playing cricket.
“It is an honour to be accepting this award on behalf of Dad tonight. We only wish he was here for himself.
“Thank you and miss you Dad.”
