JOHNNY Rotten has forced a rewrite of The Crown after banning it from using the Sex Pistols’ God Save the Queen.

The drama’s creators wanted to feature the punk rockers when it reached 1976 – the year their anti-royal anthem hit No1.

5 Artist Jamie Reid's 1977 poster for the Sex Pistols' God Save The Queen Credit: Handout

But 63-year-old Johnny, real name John Lydon, refused to give his permission.

Producers on the Netflix show were then forced to axe the storyline.

Insiders say the former anarchist is now a monarchist — and did not want a reminder of how he once savaged Her Majesty.

One said: “Johnny’s undergone quite a change of heart from the days when he was singing about the royals being ‘a fascist regime’.

5 Johnny Rotten has banned The Crown from using God Save The Queen Credit: Getty Images - Getty

5 Olivia Colman (Queen Elizabeth II) and Tobias Menzies (Prince Phillip) filming for The Crown in central London Credit: Splash News

“Last year he was saying how he’d ‘sorely miss’ The Queen after her death and praised all the pageantry that comes with a Royal Family.

“The bosses of the drama felt without his co-operation and blessing there wasn’t a lot of point in exploring the Sex Pistols’ phenomenon.”

5 The Sex Pistols: Johnny Rotten (John Lydon), Sid Vicious, Steve Jones and Paul Cook Credit: Getty - Contributor

5 Former anarchist Johnny is now a monarchist, insiders claim Credit: Getty - Contributor

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Producers had looked at actors to play the band members but pulled the plug after talks with Johnny.

The Crown’s third series sees Oscar-winner Olivia Colman take over from Claire Foy as The Queen. It will air later this year and cover the mid-Sixties to the mid-Seventies.

Johnny and Netflix declined to comment.