There might be a problem with the upcoming Sex Pistols biopic TV show

When Danny Boyle was announced as the director of a Sex Pistols biopic TV series, most people were quite pleased. Steve Jones, the Pistols guitarist, was chuffed that Boyle would turn his Lonely Boy autobiography into something excellent. However, the former Mr. Johnny Rotten isn’t happy with the whole project. Not at all.

Pistols, which is currently in production for FX, the Disney-owned US channel, has Johnny Lydon thinking about taking everyone to court. He hasn’t seen anything other than a series of still photos from the set, but he’s made it clear that he won’t be quiet about things.

From CMU (via the Sunday Times):

“Sorry, you think you can do this, like walk all over me – it isn’t going to happen. Not without a huge, enormous fucking fight. I’m Johnny, you know, and when you interfere with my business you’re going to get the bitter end of my business as a result.

“It’s a disgrace. I fronted this band. I’m the man that wrote the words. I supplied the image and direction, and I think the questions hang on their actions here. If they needed to be this secret squirrel about it then they must have something to hide.

“I think that’s the most disrespectful shit I’ve ever had to endure”, he then says of seeing the promo photos for the show. “I mean they went to the point to hire an actor [Anson Boon] to play me but what’s that actor working on? Certainly not my character. It can’t go anywhere else [but court].

“If you put me in a corner like a rat, I’m going go for your throat. I’m up against here some corporations that just want to take over. Poor old Johnny Rotten is the victim of Mickey Mouse”.

The people behind the TV series say they reached out to Johnny but direct contact was declined.” Meanwhile, US law generally allows for the dramatization of the lives of public figures. It’s a First Amendment thing.