The first glimpse of Anthony Ippolito as Sylvester Stallone in the upcoming film I Play Rocky has been unveiled. This Amazon MGM Studios project, directed by Peter Farrelly, is currently in production and focuses on the creation of the iconic 1976 film Rocky. Ippolito stars as Stallone, the actor renowned for portraying Rocky Balboa in the beloved boxing franchise.
Amazon MGM Studios shared the official first look on Instagram, showcasing Ippolito in character. The caption states, “Filming is underway for I Play Rocky, starring Anthony Ippolito. The movie chronicles the true story of Sylvester Stallone’s relentless conviction that he was destined not only to write Rocky but to embody the role of Rocky Balboa.”
According to Variety, I Play Rocky follows a 29-year-old Stallone, a struggling actor with a partially paralyzed face and speech challenges. Determined to bring his vision to life, he wrote the Rocky script and refused to sell it unless he could star as the lead. Despite rejecting lucrative offers, Stallone secured a deal to produce the film for under $1 million. The ultimate underdog tale, Rocky became the highest-grossing film of 1976 and won the Oscar for Best Picture, later inspiring multiple sequels and the Creed spinoff series.
The film’s cast also features Stephan James as Carl Weathers, alongside AnnaSophia Robb, Matt Dillon, P.J. Byrne, Tracy Letts, and Jay Duplass. Farrelly, who is producing with Toby Emmerich and Christian Baha, previously directed Green Book (2018), The Greatest Beer Run Ever (2022), and Ricky Staticky (2024), as well as co-directed films with his brother Bobby, including Dumb and Dumber (1994), There’s Something About Mary (1998), and The Three Stooges (2012). The screenplay is penned by Peter Gamble.
