Amazon MGM is moving forward with a Rocky biopic, casting Anthony Ippolito to play Sylvester Stallone in the upcoming drama I Play Rocky. The project, directed by Peter Farrelly, will explore Stallone’s relentless drive to write and star in Rocky, a film that launched one of cinema’s most renowned franchises.
Ippolito, who previously portrayed Al Pacino in the limited series The Offer, landed the role after delivering an unsolicited audition tape that impressed the producers. The film is produced by Tomy Emmerich and Christian Baha, with a screenplay by Peter Gamble.
Peter Farrelly, known for directing comedies like Dumb and Dumber and There’s Something About Mary, as well as the Oscar-winning Green Book, brings a mix of mainstream storytelling and character-driven drama to the project. The film’s description frames the story around a struggling actor with a partially paralyzed face and a speech impediment who writes a script that a major studio wants to buy. He refuses to sell unless he gets to star, works for pennies to bring the movie to life, and Rocky becomes the biggest box office hit of 1976, earning 10 Oscar nominations and winning Best Picture.
This biopic adds to a growing slate of behind-the-scenes cinema stories that dissect how iconic films came together, offering a focused look at Stallone’s perseverance and the early days of a franchise that reshaped modern filmmaking. If you’re following this project, keep an eye out for casting updates and production news as the film progresses.
Additional notes:
– The project centers on Stallone’s determination to write and star in Rocky, detailing the struggle and eventual breakthrough behind one of the era’s most influential films.
– No release date has been announced yet, but the creative team and talent involved signal a high-profile, prestige-driven approach to the telling.