New Photos Reveal Anthony Ippolito’s Uncanny Transformation Into Sylvester Stallone for ‘I Play Rocky’

Hollywood loves nothing more than telling its own origin stories, especially when the underdog narrative is baked right into the history itself. Few tales fit that mold better than the making of a scrappy 1976 boxing film that turned an unknown actor into one of cinema’s most enduring stars.

That behind-the-scenes story is now getting its own dramatization, and the project has been steadily building buzz since casting was first announced. With production well underway, fans have been eagerly tracking every new glimpse of how closely the film’s cast mirrors the real-life figures they’re portraying.

The latest look at ‘I Play Rocky’ offers fans their clearest view yet of Anthony Ippolito’s transformation into Sylvester Stallone, alongside Stephan James as Carl Weathers, the actor who originated the role of Apollo Creed in the original film. The newly released photos show both actors fully transformed for their respective roles, highlighting just how closely the film’s central duo mirrors the real Stallone and Weathers from the making of the 1976 classic.

James, who plays the late Weathers, has drawn particular praise for how convincingly he captures the actor’s screen presence, building on earlier reactions to previous first-look images. Weathers went on to become one of the franchise’s most enduring figures across multiple ‘Rocky’ sequels before his death, adding an extra layer of significance to how the role is being portrayed.

‘I Play Rocky’ dramatizes Stallone’s real-life battle to write, produce, and ultimately star in his own screenplay, despite facing repeated pressure from studios who wanted an established name in the lead role instead. According to the official synopsis, the film tells the story of an unknown actor with an unshakable belief that he wasn’t just meant to write ‘Rocky,’ but was meant to be Rocky Balboa himself.

The film explores how Stallone bet everything on that conviction, ultimately helping create one of cinema’s most enduring underdog stories in the process. Ippolito, who previously played Al Pacino in the Paramount+ limited series ‘The Offer’ about the making of ‘The Godfather,’ brings experience portraying real-life Hollywood icons of the era to this latest role.

Directed by Peter Farrelly, whose ‘Green Book’ won the Academy Award for Best Picture, ‘I Play Rocky’ rounds out its cast with AnnaSophia Robb as Stallone’s first wife Sasha Czack, Matt Dillon as Frank Stallone Sr., and P.J. Byrne as producer Irwin Winkler. Toby Kebbell, Tracy Letts, Erik Palladino and Jay Duplass also appear in supporting roles throughout the film.

The project’s connection to one of sports cinema’s most beloved franchises has generated considerable anticipation, particularly given how faithfully the marketing materials have leaned into recreating specific imagery from the original film. Early first-look footage was even set to the iconic ‘Rocky’ theme song, reinforcing the direct lineage between this new dramatization and the classic it’s chronicling.

Stallone famously got the original ‘Rocky’ made for under $1 million, a detail that has become central to how this new film frames his against-all-odds journey to stardom. That scrappy, low-budget origin stands in sharp contrast to the polished, awards-season positioning surrounding ‘I Play Rocky’ itself.

‘I Play Rocky’ is set for a limited theatrical release from Amazon MGM Studios beginning November 13. With its release date now locked in and fresh images continuing to build anticipation, the film looks positioned to draw both longtime ‘Rocky’ fans and awards season watchers eager to see how faithfully it recreates one of Hollywood’s most beloved underdog stories.

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