Sex Pistols star John Lydon is threatening to sue the makers of an upcoming TV series about the legendary punk band.
The singer, formerly known as Johnny Rotten, has confirmed that his lawyers have issued a legal letter to those behind Pistol, a dramatisation of the group’s rise to infamy which is based on the memoirs of their guitarist Steve Jones.
Directed by Trainspotting’s Danny Boyle for the FX channel, the show is expected to be broadcast on the streaming platforms Hulu and Disney+ at the end of May.
A message posted on Lydon’s official website confirmed: “A legal letter has been sent by John’s lawyers to the producers of FX’s Pistol today.
(Image: Ian West/PA Wire)
“The fact that the series is being described as ‘a dramatisation’ rather than ‘a factual documentary’ does not excuse it from the prospect of being subject to scrutiny for defamation. John will not hesitate to pursue legal action to protect his reputation.”
The 66-year-old has long proclaimed his unhappiness over the series, in which he has no involvement – even becoming embroiled in a recent High Court battle to stop the band’s music being used in the series.
“Cutting me out is a shockingly stupid move. It’s so ridiculous. It’s so preposterous. They can all f*** off,” he said in one interview.
“I supported them for years and years and years, knowing they were dead wood. None of these f***s would have a career but for me. They did nothing before, they’ve done nothing since.”
(Image: Getty Images)
The miniseries Pistol stars Anson Boon as Lydon, Louis Partridge as bassist Sid Vicious and Game Of Thrones’ Maisie Williams as Jordan, the punk fashion icon who hung around with the group and who died just two weeks ago.
Actor Boon has previously commented: “I just hope that if [Lydon] watches it, he can recognise that every decision I made in my performance was out of sheer respect for him.”
He added: “I spent so much time with John in my head and had such an intense preparation period to become him. I got down to just under eight stone.
“I was so involved in reading his books and got really involved in his design process. I had 14 different wigs in the end and fake teeth, ’cos he famously had rotten teeth.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
