At the latest edition of CinemaCon, Amazon MGM released the first teaser for I Play Rocky, a drama that delves into the behind‑the‑scenes creation of the iconic Rocky (1976). The feature follows Sylvester Stallone’s journey before fame, showing his financial hardships, his battle with partial facial paralysis, and the studios’ resistance that wanted to sell the script without him taking the lead role.
Anthony Ippolito, known for his work on The Offer, portrays the young Stallone, accurately reproducing the actor’s voice and mannerisms. The film also features Stephan James as a young Carl Weathers, AnnaSophia Robb as Sasha Czack, Stallone’s ex‑wife, and Matt Dillon in the role of the future star’s father. Direction is in the hands of Peter Farrelly, known for Green Book. I Play Rocky hits theaters on November 20, already touted as a strong contender for upcoming awards.
The production highlights Stallone’s unwavering conviction that he was not only Rocky’s screenwriter but also Rocky Balboa himself. Although the actor has stated that he did not take part in the project and was surprised by the news, the film promises to reveal little‑known details of the struggle that culminated in the creation of the billion‑dollar franchise that includes Creed and four direct sequels.
