# The iconic 1979 British rock movie John Lydon was always meant to be in: “He’s very, very intense”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-iconic-1979-british-rock-movie-john-lydon-was-always-meant-to-be-in-hes-very-very-intense/
- Published: 2026-11-08T07:00:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-08T07:21:06+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/british-rock-movie-john-lydon-was-meant-to-be-in/
- Topics: Entertainment, Film, UK, World

## Key points

- Pete Townshend wanted John Lydon to star in *Quadrophenia*.
- Lydon declined the role of Jimmy Cooper.
- Phil Daniels took the part and won acclaim.

## Summary

Pete Townshend wanted John Lydon to play Jimmy Cooper in the 1979 film *Quadrophenia*, but Lydon turned the role down. Townshend thought Lydon’s intensity might have suited the disillusioned young mod, whose story helped make the film a portrait of social tensions in 1964 Britain.

Townshend recalled that a night out with Lydon and director Franc Roddam ended with drinking, a wrong turn at a roundabout and a police stop. Phil Daniels ultimately played Cooper and was widely praised for the performance. The film took about $1 million at the box office against a $2.5 million budget.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.