Anthony Ippolito Set To Play Sylvester Stallone In Amazon MGM’s I PLAY ROCKY
Amazon MGM Studios is bringing the story behind Rocky to the big screen, and Anthony Ippolito has been tapped to step into the shoes of a young Sylvester Stallone.
The upcoming film, titled I Play Rocky, will be directed by Peter Farrelly and is set for a theatrical release. The script comes from Peter Gamble, with Toby Emmerich and Christian Baha producing.
Ippolito, who wowed audiences as a young Al Pacino in the Paramount+ series The Offer, will take on one of the most ambitious roles of his career so far.
The film dives into Stallone’s journey before stardom, focusing on his relentless determination to not just write Rocky but to embody Rocky Balboa himself. Told “no” over and over, Stallone refused to give up the lead role, risking everything to bring his vision to life.
The project is being described as the ultimate underdog story behind the ultimate underdog movie.
The Rocky franchise itself is legendary, starting with the 1976 original that won Best Picture at the Academy Awards and made Stallone a household name. Distributed first by United Artists and later MGM, the series has become one of the most iconic sports franchises ever, earning more than $1.7 billion worldwide when you include the Creed spinoffs.
Beyond the box office, Rocky cemented Stallone as a cultural icon, and his portrayal of the scrappy Philadelphia fighter still resonates with audiences nearly five decades later.
For Ippolito, this is another major step in a rising career that already includes Netflix’s hit Purple Hearts. This is one of those projects that feels destined to inspire film fans, sports fans, and anyone who loves a great Hollywood story.
Source: Deadline