Amazon MGM has unveiled the first look at I Play Rocky, a new film that explores the intense true story behind the creation of the Sylvester Stallone Rocky Story. The movie features Anthony Ippolito, known for The Offer, portraying a young Sylvester Stallone, aiming to depict the relentless determination that shaped one of cinema’s most enduring underdog tales.
Portraying Stallone’s Struggle and Resolve
The studio explains that
The film tells the true story of Sylvester Stallone and his unshakable belief that he wasn’t just meant to write Rocky, he was meant to be Rocky Balboa.
Before Stallone became an iconic action star, he was a struggling actor in his twenties facing repeated rejection. Despite having a partially paralyzed face and a speech impediment, Stallone refused to give up on his dreams.
Rather than accept lucrative offers to sell his script, he insisted on playing the lead role himself. Even while turning down six-figure deals, he stood firm on his vision for the film. Produced on a budget of less than $1 million, the movie emerged as the top box office hit of 1976 and ultimately earned the Oscar for Best Picture. This fight for recognition launched a franchise that influenced generations and led to Creed spinoffs decades later.
Creative Team and Supporting Cast
The film is directed by Peter Farrelly, known for Green Book, with production led by Farrelly, Toby Emmerich, and Christian Baha. Peter Gamble, who wrote Office Uprising, adapted the screenplay. Anthony Ippolito leads the cast as Stallone, joined by Stephan James portraying Carl Weathers, the actor who originally played Apollo Creed, Rocky’s rival. Other cast members include AnnaSophia Robb, Matt Dillon, P.J. Byrne, Tracy Letts, and Jay Duplass.
When announcing the project earlier this year, Christian Baha said
unique as Sylvester Stallone himself, a seeming Everyman with an undeniable gift who needs to share it with the world and refuses to take ‘no’ for an answer.
Anticipating the Impact of ‘I Play Rocky’
I Play Rocky aims to remind viewers why the story of the Italian Stallion remains as powerful nearly fifty years after its original release. By focusing on Stallone’s fight against overwhelming odds in Hollywood, the film highlights the grit and resolve behind the Sylvester Stallone Rocky Story, promising to resonate deeply with audiences familiar with his journey and its lasting cultural influence.
