After portraying Al Pacino in The offerAnthony Ippolito steps into Sylvester Stallone’s shoes to tell the unlikely story behind one of Hollywood’s biggest success stories.
Amazon MGM Studios unveiled the first trailer for I play Rocky on Wednesday, July 15, giving fans a look at the film that chronicles Stallone’s struggle to bring the 1976 classic Rocky to the big screen.
Directed by Oscar winner Peter Farrelly, the film follows a young Stallone as he refuses to give up the script he believes will change his life. According to the film’s official synopsis, I play Rocky “is an electrifying true story about an unknown actor with an unwavering belief that he wasn’t just meant to write Rocky—he was meant to be Rocky Balboa.”
In the trailer, Ippolito’s Stallone is seen pitching his script for Rocky, which immediately wins over executives. But when they start bantering about potential actors who could play Rocky, including Clint Eastwood, Stallone says, “Uh, guys. I’m playing Rocky.”
“Taught to ‘no’ at every turn, Sylvester Stallone bets everything on himself and holds the line playing the lead against seemingly impossible odds,” the synopsis continues. “The result is the ultimate underdog story behind the ultimate underdog movie.”
AnnaSophia Robb stars as Stallone’s first wife, Sasha Czack, while Stephan James portrays Carl Weathers, the late actor who famously played Apollo Creed. The cast also includes Matt Dillon as Frank Stallone Sr. along with Tracy Letts, Jay Duplass, Kiki Seto and PJ Byrne.
I play Rocky will be in cinemas in November.
Is Sylvester Stallone Involved in ‘I Play Rocky’?
Sylvester Stallone is not involved I play Rockydespite having expressed his interest. In an interview in September 2025 with The playlistthe Oscar-nominated actor said he was “blindsided” by the film’s announcement.
“I was shocked to read [about] the. I have nothing to do with it. Since I lived it, I thought maybe I could participate and give them some insight,” Stallone, 79, said at the time.
Meanwhile, the action star prepares to publish his memoir, The stepson September 29.
