Anthony Ippolito to be Sylvester Stallone in ‘I Play Rocky’

The new movie, from Amazon MGM Studios, will chronicle Stallone’s struggle to land the lead in the boxing classic he wrote on spec –– it worked out!

(Left) Anthony Ippolito as Al Pacino of the Paramount+ original series 'The Offer'. Photo: Nicole Wilder/Paramount+ ©2022 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. (Right) Sylvester Stallone in 1977's 'Rocky.' Photo: United Artists.

Preview:

Anthony Ippolito has landed the starring role as Sylvester Stallone in ‘ I Play Rocky’.
Peter Farrelly is directing.
It’ll chronicle the making of ‘Rocky’.

It’s been more than a year since we reported on Peter Farrelly agreeing to direct based-on-truth, behind-the-scenes movie ‘I Play Rocky’, which chronicles Sylvester Stallone’s efforts to land the lead in the boxing classic he set up.

Now we know, via The Hollywood Reporter, that Anthony Ippolito has landed the role of Stallone.

This marks the second time Ippolito will play an iconic Italian-American actor, as his most notable previous credit was as Al Pacino in Paramount+ series ‘The Offer’, itself a look at the difficult production of ‘The Godfather’.

What’s the story of ‘I Play Rocky’?

(L to R) Sylvester Stallone and Carl Weathers in 'Rocky'. Photo: United Artists.

The new movie, set up at Amazon MGM Studios and written by Peter Gamble, chronicles the true Hollywood story about an unknown actor with an unshakable belief that he wasn’t just meant to write Rocky — he was meant to be Rocky Balboa.

Told “no” at every turn, Stallone bets everything on himself, holding the line on playing the lead against seemingly impossible odds. The result is the ultimate underdog story behind the ultimate underdog movie.

Ippolito had a similar approach to his own role –– when he learned the movie was being made, he created and sent in his own audition tape directly to the producers, landing the role in the process.

‘I Play Rocky’: The producers speak

Peter Farrelly accepts the Oscar® for original screenplay during the live ABC Telecast of The 91st Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, February 24, 2019. Credit/Provider: Aaron Poole / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

Toby Emmerich, the former Warner Bros. Motion Picture chief, is one of the main producers and had this to say:

“I’ve been a fan of Peter Farrelly as both a filmmaker and a person since getting to work with him on the music for ‘Dumb and Dumber’. But it was ‘Green Book’ that made me think of Pete for this inspiring screenplay. Christian Baha and I feel blessed to have Pete at the helm for this movie. And like the unknown Stallone starring in Rocky, Pete will be conducting a worldwide search to discover another actor who just needs one shot — in ‘I Play Rocky’ — to show the world what he can do.”

Well, now they have that actor!