Anthony Ippolito Becomes Sylvester Stallone in First Look at ‘I Play Rocky’

A first look at I Play Rocky has been released, showing Anthony Ippolito stepping into the role of a young Sylvester Stallone.

The film tells the story behind the making of the original Rocky movie, exploring the struggles and determination that helped bring the 1976 classic to life.

Directed by Peter Farrelly and written by Peter Gamble, the biographical drama dives into the chaotic production of Rocky and how Stallone fought to make his dream film a reality. Ippolito, known for his role in The Offer, leads the cast as Stallone.

The film also stars Stephan James as Carl Weathers, AnnaSophia Robb as Stallone’s first wife Sasha Czack, Matt Dillon as Frank Stallone Sr., P.J. Byrne as producer Irwin Winkler, Toby Kebbell as Robert Chartoff, Tracy Letts as Sandy Maddox, and Jay Duplass as director John G. Avildsen.

The project was first announced in May 2024, with Farrelly confirmed to direct and Gamble penning the script. FilmNation Entertainment and CAA Media Finance are handling international and U.S. sales, respectively. Casting began this year, with Ippolito confirmed for the lead role in August. The rest of the cast joined later.

Filming started on October 15, and is taking place in New York City, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles, all locations tied to Stallone’s early years and the making of Rocky.

Interestingly, Stallone revealed he wasn’t aware of the film during its early stages. “I wasn’t contacted by anyone about it,” he said, explaining that he found out about the project through the media. He added that while he’s not involved at the moment, he’s open to contributing as a consultant if asked.

Amazon MGM Studios is set to release I Play Rocky in theaters.

The movie aims to capture how an unknown actor with a small script created one of Hollywood’s greatest underdog stories. It shows the grit and persistence that made Rocky not just a hit film but a symbol of resilience.

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