A trailer has been released for a new film dramatizing the making of one of cinema’s most celebrated underdog stories. I Play Rocky charts Sylvester Stallone’s struggle to launch his acting career by writing and starring in his own film.
The original Rocky earned ten Academy Award nominations and won three, including best picture. Released in 1976, it became the year’s highest-grossing film after Stallone turned down a six-figure payout to retain control of his script.
Stallone secured a greenlight from United Artists to produce and star in the project with a modest $1 million budget. The film’s success reshaped his career and spawned a long-running franchise.
Central to the new dramatization is the challenge of casting an actor who can convincingly embody Stallone. Anthony Ippolito, 26, takes on the role after previously portraying a young Al Pacino in a series about the making of The Godfather.
In the trailer, Ippolito delivers Stallone’s distinctive voice and mannerisms. Early reactions from viewers have highlighted the striking resemblance, with some describing the likeness as uncanny.
The film underscores parallels between Stallone’s real-life hardships and the fictional Rocky Balboa. The trailer depicts Stallone working menial jobs while refusing a $200,000 buyout for his screenplay, which he wrote in a three-day burst.
Studio executives in the film suggest established stars for the role, but Stallone insists on playing Rocky himself. The trailer frames this determination as central to the story’s themes of self-belief.
The promotional footage leans heavily on nostalgia, featuring an orchestral version of Gonna Fly Now and a re-creation of Rocky’s famous museum steps pose. Some observers have criticized the project as overly sentimental in its self-mythologizing.
Stallone, now 80, is not involved in the production. The film arrives amid a broader trend of movies recounting the behind-the-scenes origins of classic films.
I Play Rocky also features AnnaSophia Robb, Matt Dillon, Toby Kebbell, and PJ Byrne. It is written and directed by Peter Farrelly.
The film opens in UK cinemas on November 6 and in US cinemas on November 20.
