Pistol star Anson Boon has addressed a controversy which saw John Lydon lose a court case over the new drama last year.
The Hulu and Disney+ series follows the rise of the iconic punk band Sex Pistols, and also explores the wider punk scene in the 1970s.
However, the series was at the centre of a legal dispute in 2021 between Lydon and former band mates Paul Cook and Steve Jones, after Lydon tried to block the use of the group's music in Pistol.
Lydon has also been extremely critical of Pistol on several occasions. His spokesperson recently issued a statement accusing the series of being a "middle-class fantasy" and "a fairytale, which bears little resemblance to the truth". He has also frequently reiterated that he's not involved in the show.
Addressing the dispute, star Anson Boon – who portrays Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) in the drama – spoke exclusively to Digital Spy, admitting he's "chuffed" that the star may end up watching the show.
"I know he's gonna see it now. He's said in the press that he's going to watch it, which I'm chuffed about," he said.
"I've left him all little clues in my performance that I know he'll pick up on, that I hope he'll recognise that only someone who really admires him and really read all of his books and did as much research as possible would know, I hope anyway.
"Listen, I'm sorry he feels the way he does, I really am. It's really disappointing because we all are such massive fans of him, but particularly Danny [Boyle, director] has always been such a fan of John Lydon even in PiL after the Sex Pistols.
"I didn't know too much about him before I started the job," Boon continued. "I remember when I was auditioning, when I was asked to read John Lydon I didn't know who it was because I only knew about Johnny Rotten.
"But then having read all his books and spent so much time with him in my head, I just hold him in the highest regard, truthfully."
Related: Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams' new show Pistol unveils latest trailer
Speaking to The Sun, Lydon said that while he "doesn't really want" to watch Pistol, he feels he needs to "fact-check" the programme.
Boon added: "The one thing I can consistently say, that they all said, was that they really do hold his contributions to the band and to music as a whole in the highest regard.
"So I hope he watches it, but I won't be surprised at anything he says, put it that way."
A spokesperson for Pistol said that Boyle had reached out to Lydon's management about the series, claiming that "ultimately direct contact was declined".
Pistol also stars the likes of Game of Thrones' Maisie Williams as Jordan (aka Pamela Rooke), as well as The Society's Toby Wallace as Steve Jones, Jacob Slater as Paul Cook and Enola Holmes's Louis Partridge as Sid Vicious.
Pistol will launch on Hulu on May 31, and the miniseries will be available on Disney+ in the UK.
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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
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