Hit actor best known for his role as WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is transformed into a sports icon for a biopic

ACTOR Alex Williams’ stunning transformation into Shane Warne was first seen as he prepares to play the legendary cricketer in an upcoming biopic.

Legendary Australian spin bowler Warne died in March aged 52 after suffering a heart attack.

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Australian broadcaster Channel 9 announced in September that it would air a two-part biopic about Warne’s life in 2023.

And now Williams – best known for playing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in the 2012 TV movie Underground: The Julian Assange Story – has reinvented himself as a heroic Australian cricketer.

Pictures of him on set have been revealed and it’s uncanny how much the Perth-born actor resembles Warne.

Australian actress Marny Kennedy will play Warne’s ex-wife Simone Callahan.

The program will be shown over two evenings and has been described as a “must see drama event”.

But after the biopic’s announcement, Warne’s daughter Brooke slammed the series.

Taking to Instagram, she wrote: “Do any of you guys have any respect for dad? Or his family?

“Who has done so much for Channel 9 and now you want to dramatize his life and the life of our family (sic) 6 months after his death?

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“You are beyond disrespectful.”

In response to the public criticism, Channel 9 told The Guardian: “We know our Warnie mini-series will celebrate the life of an extraordinary Australian – a man who lived his life big and loved it passionately.

“We have great respect for Shane and all his achievements and we hope all Australians, including Warnie’s family, will feel that the program honors his legacy and his life.”

Warne is widely regarded as the greatest spin bowler of all time.

He won 708 wickets in 145 Test matches for Australia, with only Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan (800) scoring more in Test cricket.

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