Nine execs in talks with Shane Warne’s former manager

Shane Warne’s former manager James Erskine spoke with Nine’s director of television Michael Healy and Head of Drama Andy Ryan on Thursday following family members criticising their plans for a bio-drama.

Nine announced Warnie, a two-part biopic, at its Upfronts this week.

Nine assured him the project was only using narratives from interviews Warne had done.

“The perception of a dramatisation is that it is going to be sex, sizzle and sensationalism, rather than a wholesome story,” Erskine told the Herald Sun.

“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.

“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.”

Earlier this year Ryan also told TV Tonight, “His life was so intriguing, and a work in progress. It became more intriguing and interesting with every passing year and it’s a tragedy that Shane died so young. But the outpouring of grief adds an extra dimension. He’s definitely flawed, but a genius, a rogue and a rascal,” he said.

“Our relationship with him at the time, and now, has ebbed and flowed…we’ve seen the best and worst of ourselves in him. At the core, he was a genius cricketer but we don’t want to tell just a story about a genius cricketer. He was also a cultural icon but we don’t just want to tell a story about a cultural icon.”

He added, “Which phase of Shane’s life will we foreground? I think it’s fair to say a cradle to the grave biopic is not our style.”

The lead role is rumoured to be going to a relative newcomer.

Seven previously announced a Warne drama in 2017 but did not proceed.