Amazon MGM has officially cast a lead actor for the upcoming biopic about the making of the iconic boxing film Rocky.
According to a recent report from THR, Anthony Ippolito—who previously portrayed Al Pacino in the Paramount limited series The Offer—will take on the role of Sylvester Stallone in the film titled I Play Rocky. The project is directed by Peter Farrelly and will explore Stallone’s journey of writing and starring in Rocky, a film that launched one of the most celebrated franchises in cinema history.
THR notes that Ippolito’s dedication mirrors Stallone’s own perseverance. The actor reportedly submitted an unsolicited audition tape after learning about the project, which caught the producers’ attention. His efforts evidently impressed enough to secure him a role in the film. The movie is being produced by Tomy Emmerich and Christian Baha, with a screenplay by Peter Gamble.
Peter Farrelly, known for directing comedies like Dumb and Dumber, Shallow Hal, Me, Myself & Irene, and There’s Something About Mary, also directed the Oscar-winning Green Book in 2018.
The film’s synopsis describes it as: “A struggling actor with a partially paralyzed face and a speech impediment writes a script that a major studio wants to buy, but he refuses to sell unless he can star in it himself. Turning down a lucrative offer, he works tirelessly for little pay to produce the film with himself in the leading role. That film becomes the biggest box office hit of 1976, earning 10 Oscar nominations and winning Best Picture — the true story behind the making of the legendary movie Rocky.”
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