A trailer for the forthcoming film I Play Rocky has been released, depicting Sylvester Stallone's journey to stardom through his own screenplay. The movie, produced by Amazon MGM Studios, chronicles how Stallone wrote Rocky in a three-day burst, rejected a six-figure buyout, and eventually secured a $1 million budget from United Artists. The original film later earned ten Oscar nominations and three wins, including Best Picture, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1976.
Anthony Ippolito's 'Uncanny' Transformation
Central to the dramatisation is actor Anthony Ippolito, 26, who previously portrayed a young Al Pacino in the 2022 miniseries The Offer about The Godfather. In I Play Rocky, Ippolito adopts Stallone's distinctive deep, slurred voice and snarling expression. Fans on social media have described the likeness as 'uncanny' and 'identical'. One X user, Rodolfo Gomes, wrote: 'Holy s**t, I'm freaked out. This looks like AI. The guy is IDENTICAL to young Stallone. The voice is the same, the way he talks. This nutjob is gonna win the Oscar.' Another YouTube user insisted: 'That is Stallone, you can't tell me otherwise.'
Underdog Story Mirrors Rocky
The trailer emphasises parallels between Stallone's life and his fictional character Rocky Balboa. It shows Stallone working menial jobs—parking cars and gutting fish—while refusing a $200,000 offer for the screenplay. When executives suggest casting Charles Bronson or Clint Eastwood, Stallone declares, 'Guys, I play Rocky,' only to be met with confusion. The film also reveals Stallone's birth name and compares his journey to that of Peter Parker. Critics have noted the potential for schmaltz, with one fan joking: 'In 10 years there will be an underdog movie about the underdog story of the struggle of making a movie about the making of the underdog story of Rocky Balboa.'
Mixed Reactions and 'Making Of' Trend Fatigue
While many praise Ippolito's performance, some question the need for the film. Frederick Goodman commented: 'Why is this a movie? Stallone is alive and we have Rocky footage? Have him tell his own story with footage intercut.' Others have expressed fatigue with Hollywood's self-mythologising trend. The trailer concludes with a re-enactment of Rocky's iconic run up the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps, set to a dramatic orchestral version of 'Gonna Fly Now'. The film is written and directed by Peter Farrelly, known for Green Book and There's Something About Mary.
Cast and Release Details
I Play Rocky stars AnnaSophia Robb, Matt Dillon, Toby Kebbell, and PJ Byrne. The film is set for release in UK cinemas on November 6, 2026, and in US cinemas on November 20, 2026. The original Rocky grossed approximately $225 million at the box office and spawned eight sequels and spin-offs, including the Creed series. The most recent entry, Creed III (2023), was the first not to feature Stallone as Rocky.
