Anthony Ippolito will play Sylvester Stallone in ‘I Play Rocky,’ Amazon MGM’s upcoming movie about the making of the iconic Rocky.
The project, directed by Peter Farrelly, is set to begin filming this fall, with a theatrical release confirmed.
Stallone himself took to Instagram to confirm the production schedule, “Filming starts October 15, and I wish them all the luck in the world. It’s a wonderful script!”
The film will chart Stallone’s now-legendary determination to play underdog fighter Rocky Balboa, despite major Hollywood studios wanting another star in the role.
In 1975, producers offered Stallone large sums to sell the script, but he refused unless he could star in it. That gamble gave birth to one of cinema’s most enduring sports franchises, which has grossed more than $1.6 billion worldwide.
Anthony Ippolito takes the gloves
Ippolito, who won acclaim for portraying Al Pacino in The Offer (Paramount+), steps into Stallone’s shoes. His casting reflects the film’s behind-the-scenes theme, how an unknown actor forced his way past Hollywood’s iron gates with sheer grit and stubbornness.
The 26-year-old will slip into Rocky’s gloves during filming and take on Stallone’s fight to portray a character with deep meaning to his life.
Farrelly’s vision will capture not only the story of a struggling actor but also the creation of a cultural phenomenon that inspired millions.
Stallone’s bittersweet relationship with Rocky
Despite Rocky’s box-office triumphs, Stallone has never owned the rights to his most famous character. As WBN has previously reported, the action legend revealed his frustrations in an interview with Variety.
“I was very angry. I was furious,” Stallone admitted. “Rocky is on TV worldwide more than any other Oscar-winning film other than The Godfather.
“You have six of them. Now you have Creed and Creed II. My kids and their kids are taken care of because of the system. But some dark little segues and people have put it to you.”
Stallone claims he signed a standard 1970s contract for fixed fees and has never received a profit percentage, something he deeply regrets.
“When I finally confronted them (in 1985, before Rocky IV), I said, ‘Does it bother you guys that I’ve written every word, I’ve choreographed it, I’ve been loyal to you, I’ve promoted it, directed it, and I don’t have 1% that I could leave for my children?’
And the quote was, ‘You got paid.’ And that was the end of the conversation.”
The fighter who never gave up
From touting the script around Los Angeles to being typecast as a muscle-bound action star, Stallone’s career has mirrored his most famous creation: a man written off, underestimated, and forced to fight for every inch of respect.
With I Play Rocky, audiences will see the story behind the story of how a struggling actor, broke and desperate, turned a boxing script into Hollywood gold.
The irony remains that while Stallone created Rocky Balboa, the franchise ultimately slipped beyond his financial control.
Yet, for millions of fans, Stallone will forever be synonymous with the Italian Stallion who ran the steps of Philadelphia with or without his fair share of the profits.
About the Author
Phil Jay is a veteran boxing journalist with over 15 years of experience covering the global fight scene. As Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News since 2010, Jay has interviewed dozens of world champions and reported ringside on boxing’s biggest nights. [View all articles by Phil Jay] and learn more about his work in combat sports journalism.