Jai Courtney is triumphant that ‘Be Here Now’ will be in cinemas.
The 30-year-old actor co stared with Andy Whitfield – who died from Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2011 – in ‘Spartacus: Blood and Sand’.
The film documents Andy’s journey with cancer as he is supported by his wife Vashti – with whom he has children Jesse,10, and Indy, eight – as he battles the illness.
Speaking to ET Online, the ‘Suicide Squad’ star said: "Andy was a very special friend – and his family, I consider an extension of my own. To see this film finally go the distance and be having a release is such a triumph. He became kind of a mentor, kind of a hero to me in a way.
"Not only in what he was achieving within the world of our profession, but just in the way he lived his life. We became fast friends, and I just looked up to him so much.
"It’s a weird thing to hear, someone so young and so healthy – certainly on the surface – so close to you. It was a strange thing to kind of digest, but at that time, we weren’t really considering the worst."
"He was often cast as this very strong, handsome, stoic type – but Andy was a cheeky p***k and a very very funny dude."
The ‘Insurgent’ actor has maintained a relationship with Andy’s family describing them as "amazing".
Jai insists he wants to be there to support them with whatever they need as a mark of respect to his late pal Andy.
He said: "Vashti and I … we are family. The kids are gorgeous. They’re growing up. Jesse’s nearly eleven, Indy’s eight. They’re like a little pride of lions. They’re amazing."
Jai Courtney triumphant that Be Here Now is being release
