Alex Williams on portraying Shane Warne and dealing with the backlash surrounding the show

The upcoming Shane Warne telemovie has drawn widespread criticism, but the man at the centre of it has a simple solution.

The Shane Warne telemovie, Warnie, is set to hit television screens around the country on Sunday night amid a wave of controversy.

After a life spent largely in the spotlight, the dramatisation of the Spin King’s colourful life has drawn widespread criticism, including from the Warne family itself.

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The backlash came in thick and fast when the two-part telemovie was announced by Channel 9 with Brooke Warne labelling it “beyond disrespectful”.

Friends and family members of the Aussie cricketing great have been unimpressed with the network since the two-part series was confirmed in July last year.

Simone Callahan, Warne’s ex-wife, was the latest to hit out over the upcoming show saying it was “unkind and mean spirited” to be airing so close to his passing.

The 52-year-old icon tragically died while on holiday in Thailand in March 2022 in news that left people across the globe heartbroken.

But as the backlash poured in, the man who was cast to portray the greatest leg spinner cricket has ever seen wasn’t paying attention.

Alex Williams in character as Shane Warne for the Channel 9 telemovie Warnie. Picture: Supplied/Channel 9

Alex Williams remained locked in on his role trying to emulate the Australian icon, putting the noise of contempt in his rearview mirror.

With the two-part telemovie to get underway on Sunday night on Channel 9 from 7pm (AEST), Williams has a simple solution for those who believe the show is too close to 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 said 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 those close to the late-great haven’t been the only ones critical of the show, Williams says the comments from the family after seeing the show have been positive.

But he also said the criticism that came from all corners wasn’t a deterrent and there was no chance it was going to stop him from diving into the role 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 said.

“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 went all out for the role. Picture: Nine

Williams shot to fame with his portrayal of Julian Assange in the 2012 film Underground: The Julian Assange Story.

But it’s this role of playing a childhood hero that left him nervous and those nerves are bubbling away in the lead up to the show going to air.

“Yeah, I mean, I am nervous … some people will love it, some people hate it,” Williams said.

“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 opportunity to play one of the greatest Aussies to ever play the game was a dream come true.

Williams threw himself into becoming like Warnie, from instantly hitting the nets after receiving the phone call to building up his body to be more like the wicket taking supremo.

Williams and Marny Kennedy as Shane and Simone Warne. Picture: Nine

“I told my family and then went straight down to the nets,” Williams said.

“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 spread far and wide, but no moment was ever bigger than his delivery to dismiss Mike Gatting. The wicket was dubbed ‘the ball of the century’ and it was the moment Williams loved filming 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 life of Shane Warne will air on Sunday and Monday night with part 1 of Warnie airing Sunday night from 7pm (AEST) on Channel 9.