Warnie

Coming in 2023

There has never been and never will be another like him. Over two big nights, Warnie will be the fitting tribute to one of the greatest Australians of all time, the Aussie larrikin who lived and loved large in the 9Network’s must see drama event of 2023. 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. Warnie is produced for the 9Network by Screentime, a Banijay company, in association with VicScreen. Cast to be announced soon.

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According to Herald Sun, Warne’s eldest daughter Brooke posted on Instagram Story tonight slamming Nine’s decision to commission the telemovie.

Do any of you have any respect for Dad? Or his family? Who did so much for Channel 9 and now you want to dramatise his life and our families life 6 months after he passed away? You are beyond disrespectful.

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Interestingly, she was actually replying to and shared a screenshot from Jo Hall’s Instagram story in which Jo was promoting she was going on 3AW to discuss some topics and one of them was the Shane Warne telemovie and whether it was too soon.

It would have been the late Shane Warne’s birthday on Tuesday this week.

Seven announced a miniseries called Warnie back in 2016 but then chose not to proceed. Nine revived the idea soon after he passed away.

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I actually agree… I really do think this is too soon.

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Yeah. I think they should wait a few years.

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I agree. It’s way too soon. Id have them wait a little more too.

It was like earlier in the year with the Melissa Caddick story (aka Underbelly: Vanishing Act). It aired on Nine just over a year since her disappearance. That two-part miniseries was poorly executed, despite having some good cast in it.

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Herald Sun reports Warne’s long-term manager James Erskine spoke with Nine’s director of television Michael Healy and head of drama Andy Ryan on Thursday, after Warne’s three children spoke out against the telemovie. Erskine said he was assured by Healy that the telemovie was a celebration of the cricket legend’s life and would not be salacious.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/page-13/channel-9-in-crisis-talks-with-warnes-family-over-planned-telemovie/news-story/9c5bd0c493508b1f87b98639eea6f4ef

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Filming commences on the biggest drama of 2023

Production commenced this week on Warnie, the 9Network’s must see drama event of 2023.

Over two big nights, Warnie will pay tribute to one of the greatest Australians of all time, the Aussie larrikin who lived life to the full.

There has never been and never will be another like him.

Shane Warne was an Aussie legend, a cultural icon, a cricketing genius, a charmer and a loveable rogue.

Warnie, as he was affectionately known to all, transcended cricket.

Like all great characters, he inspired extreme reactions from people from all walks of life, in Australia and around the world.

During pre-production, the 9Network and Screentime have met with the Warne family who have offered their support for the series. The 9Network looks forward to collaborating with the family as filming continues.

Warnie stars Alex Williams (Underground: The Julian Assange Story, The Heights) as Shane Warne, Anthony Hayes (Gold, Light Between Oceans) and Marny Kennedy (Between Two Worlds, Janet King), supported by a stellar cast including Jacquie Brennan (Wentworth, Informer 3838), Jeremy Stanford (Winners & Losers, Wentworth), Ben Hall (Neighbours, Devil’s Playground), Tom Stokes (The Railway Man, Equals), Darcy Kent (New Gold Mountain, Spreadsheet), and newcomer Shanti Kali.

Warnie is produced for the 9Network by Screentime, a Banijay company.

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The Warne family and Warne’s manager had been opposed to the miniseries even before Nine announced it. What made them to change their mind?

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Actually being consulted about it?

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According to Herald Sun, it was Eddie McGuire who helped initiate peace talks between Shane Warne’s family, the cricketer’s manager James Erskine, and production company Screentime.

Filming began in bayside Melbourne this week and would run for another three weeks.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/first-look-at-cast-for-shane-warne-telemovie/news-story/60f972339f5e55b568dfb3c0a6a95c85

Edit 14/11
According to The Australian, the “full and frank” meeting was held in Melbourne during Cup Week, also attended by Nine’s drama chief Andy Ryan. The Warne family made it clear part of the problem the family had with the telemovie was that they were blindsided by Nine’s announcement of it so soon after Warne’s death. In turn, Nine apologised for the way the family learnt of the telemovie, and gave assurance that the telemovie would be a celebration of Warne’s life, and would not dwell unnecessarily on more salacious aspects.

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COMING SOON TO CHANNEL 9 & 9NOW

The two-part event drama series tells the story of the late, great Shane Warne - a larger-than-life character both on and off the field. Warnie, as he was affectionately known, transcended cricket. People who otherwise have no feelings whatsoever for the game suddenly turn passionate at the mention of his name. Clearly, millions of people adored him, given the huge outpouring of emotion at his tragic, untimely passing.

Warnie was an ordinary kid from the suburbs who became the best in the world. He possessed a rare gift: a genius for spin-bowling. A rare, almost mystical art-form. He completely changed the game of cricket.

Shane Warne loved life. He absolutely ate it up. He loved people and they loved him back. And through it all, he stayed true to himself. He lived to be a legend, an icon. And this is his story.

The life and times of Shane Warne - cricket legend and cultural icon.

The late, great Shane Warne was truly a larger-than-life character both on and off the field. “Warnie” transcended cricket. People who otherwise have no feelings whatsoever for the game suddenly turn passionate at the mention of his name. Clearly, millions of people adored him, given the huge outpouring of emotion at his tragic, untimely passing.

So what was it about this man? How did a guy from Black Rock – who made his living as a cricketer – come to be so famous and mourned by millions?

After all, this is a man who never captained Australia. This is a sportsman who found himself in trouble, multiple times – who at one point was banned from the game, for a year. A man who lived his life in the full glare of the spotlight, had his every failing scrutinised by global media and had more than his fair share of controversy. Yet, in spite of all that, Shane Warne managed to retain the love of not only his family and friends but a vast number of ordinary folk around the world.

How did he pull it off?

Warnie was an ordinary kid from the suburbs who became the best in the world. He possessed a rare gift: a genius for spin-bowling. A rare, almost mystical art-form.

He completely changed the game of cricket. When Warnie arrived, spin was dead. He turned the game on its head. He was passionate and unpredictable. A brilliant showman. Dangerous, whenever he got the ball. He battled serious injury and adversity. He made mistakes, fell out of favour and fought his way back – many times.

Shane Warne loved life. He absolutely ate it up. He loved people and they loved him back. And through it all, he stayed true to himself. He lived to be a legend, an icon.

This is his story.

The cast

The crew

Synopsis

Night One

Shane Warne’s journey - from cheeky suburban kid to sports megastar.

Shane Warne is a knockabout kid from the Melbourne suburbs who dreams of being a professional footy player. As a naturally gifted teenage athlete, he is on his way to achieving his dream, until rejection brings his world crashing down.

Shane manages to fight his way back, in a different sport: cricket. He digs in, works at his craft, learns from the best and finally makes the national team. From there he becomes a superstar of the game. With his larrikin attitude and competitive spirit, he brings a whole new level of excitement, danger and fun to the sport – in the process, becoming famous around the world.

But life for an elite sportsman can be wildly unpredictable and with one or two errors of judgement, Shane puts his entire career at risk. A genius on the field, can he survive the crises that face him off-field?

Night Two

Struggling with injury and the relentless gaze of the public, Shane battles to keep it all together.

Shane’s career has reached unimaginable heights. Now, one simple mistake finds him facing the biggest crisis yet. In the full glare of the media spotlight, Shane deals with controversy both on and off the field, while his body struggles to cope with the immense strain of a huge physical and mental workload.

As his critics grow louder and the competition more fierce, Shane battles to keep his family together and secure his legacy as truly one of the greatest players of all time.

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PAUL MOLONEY Producer

Paul Moloney has a long and consistent body of work behind him, spanning series television, telemovies, mini-series and feature film, as a Director and as a Producer for Playing for Keeps and Winners and Losers (Series 2, 3, 4 and 5).

Since his debut on renowned long-running series The Sullivans in 1981, Paul has worked solidly across all genres of television, from children’s programming, to high-end drama series.

Paul’s directorial credits are widespread and feature some of the most popular Australian programs ever produced, including Satisfaction, City Homicide, Halifax f.p., Dogwoman, State Coroner, Embassy, Seachange, Good Guys Bad Guys, Blue Heelers, Stingers, Snowy, Law of the Land, The Flying Doctors, Carson’s Law and The Henderson Kids.

Paul has been nominated for an AFI Award for Best TV Direction for the ABC mini-series This Man This Woman, the children’s mini-series Halfway across the Galaxy and Turn Left and the Halifax telemovie titled Cradle and All.

In 2002 Paul was nominated for an AFI Award for Best Director for the feature film Crackerjack which was the highest grossing Australian film for 2002.

MATT FORD Writer/Executive Producer

Matt Ford is a writer, producer, musician and performer. His TV writing credits include Underbelly: Vanishing Act, Hiding, Road, Informer 3838, Bloom, Satisfaction, Love Child, Stingers, Love Is A Four-Letter Word and the US sci-fi series Farscape.

He wrote the documentary feature Killing Priscilla, directed by Academy-Award winner Lizzy Gardiner and produced by Jane Scott (Shine, Mao’s Last Dancer). In 2011 he won the John Hinde Award for Science Fiction for the telemovie Panic At Rock Island.

Matt has composed and performed music for film and TV, and his songs have featured in shows as diverse as GP, The Secret Life Of Us and Underbelly. He won an ARIA Award for Song Of The Year. He remains a successful stand-up performer and touring musician.

SARA RICHARDSON Executive Producer

Now leading the scripted strategy for Endemol Shine Australia, Sara Richardson is one of Australia’s leading production creatives.

In her previous role, as Channel 10’s Network Drama Executive, Sara oversaw the development and production of the critically acclaimed thriller The Secret She Keeps and the much-celebrated drama Five Bedrooms. She also looked after My Life is Murder, Sisters, the final season of Offspring, the special event mini-series Wake In Fright, as well as the second season of The Wrong Girl, two seasons of Playing For Keeps and the perennially popular Neighbours.

Prior to joining Channel 10, Sara spent over five years at Playmaker Media working in drama development across titles including The Wrong Girl, House Husbands, Love Child, The Code and Hiding. She joined Playmaker from Essential Media and Entertainment, where she worked across Development and Business Affairs for over two years including on iconic series Rake and Jack Irish.

Most recently Sara is Executive Producing NCIS: Sydney for Endemol Shine Australia in partnership with CBSS, the first international iteration of the franchise. Sara has produced Network Seven’s eightpart series RFDS and now Season 2 which is in development. Sara has also Executive Produced BALI: 2022 which recently premiered on Stan, and Underbelly: Vanishing Act for Nine Network. In her role at Endemol Shine Australia, Sara is working across a drama slate for both domestic and international audiences with a key focus on unearthing new talent.

ANDY RYAN Head Of Drama 9Network/Executive Producer

As Head of Drama for the 9Network Australia, Andy oversees the commissioning and production of the network’s drama, comedy and children’s drama output, across Nine’s linear and digital channels.

Recent productions include Underbelly: Vanishing Act, After The Verdict, Informer 3838, Halifax: Retribution and five seasons of Australia’s most popular series, Doctor Doctor. Other commissions include Underbelly: Badness, Underbelly: Razor, Fat Tony & Co, Underbelly Files: Chopper, Love Child (Seasons 1-4), House Husbands (Seasons 1-5), Amazing Grace, SeaChange, Bad Mothers, Here Come the Habibs, the mini-series Howzat: Kerry Packer’s War, House of Hancock, House of Bond, Gallipoli and telemovies including Beaconsfield and The Great Mint Swindle.

For the Australian streaming platform STAN, Andy was Executive Producer of the landmark drama Bali: 2002, as well as STAN’s first ever Stan Originals: crime thriller Wolf Creek and comedy series No Activity .

Prior to joining Nine, Andy was a screenwriter and script producer for top rating dramas including McLeod’s Daughters, Home & Away and All Saints, as well as children’s animations Blinky Bill and Flipper & Lopaka.

GEOFF BENNETT Director

Geoff Bennett is a writer and director for many Australian television shows. Most recently, Geoff directed Underbelly: Vanishing Act for the 9Network, Home & Away for the Seven Network, MaveriX for the ABC and Bump for Australian streaming platform STAN.

For the 9Network Geoff has directed Informer 3838, Doctor Doctor, Bad Mothers, Bite Club, House Husbands, Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch Story, Sea Patrol, Cops L.A.C., Rescue Special Ops, Underbelly and McLeod’s Daughters.

Geoff’s other directorial credits include the first ever Stan Originals series Wolf Creek, Harrow for the ABC, Secret Daughter, All Saints and Headland for the Seven Network, Wentworth and Love My Way for Foxtel and Brock, Rush and Water Rats for Network Ten.

Geoff’s directorial film credits include Hating Alison Ashley and telemovie The Great Mint Swindle
for the 9Network.

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The full trailer was posted on the websites of Nine’s newspapers this morning.

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Interview with Alex Williams in The Age Green Guide - it also reveals the mini-series will air across two consecutive nights, on June 25 and 26.

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Looks pretty crap going by the promo’s

Disrespectful and utterly disgraceful makes me ashame to be a cricket fan. Such vile trash from a trash network. This is exactly why I have forbidden people from using the nine network in my house.

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