Sylvester Stallone Opens Up About Upcoming Biopic 'I Play Rocky'

Sylvester Stallone, the iconic star of the Rocky franchise, has finally shared his thoughts on the forthcoming biopic titled "I Play Rocky." After remaining largely silent about the project, Stallone has provided a brief statement regarding the film's development.

The biopic is set to explore the life and career of Stallone, particularly focusing on the character that catapulted him to fame. In addition to "I Play Rocky," another film, "John Rambo," is also in the pipeline, which serves as a prequel to the story of the battle-hardened John J. Rambo. While Stallone is involved as a producer for "John Rambo," he has expressed surprise at the existence of the biopic, stating:

"I was shocked when I read about it. I have nothing to do with it."

His initial shock appears to have subsided, especially with the release of the first teaser trailer featuring Anthony Ippolito as a young Stallone, striving to embody the essence of Rocky Balboa. Stallone has since commented positively on the project:

"Every story has a beginning and I look forward to seeing how this comes to life. Congratulations to the cast and crew of 'I Play Rocky.' Keep it up!"

The teaser trailer has also garnered a favorable reaction from fans, who are eager to see how the story unfolds.

Anthony Ippolito: The Actor Behind the Young Stallone

In portraying the younger version of Stallone, Anthony Ippolito has drawn inspiration from the actor's extensive body of work. Directed by Peter Farrelly, known for "Green Book," Ippolito has prepared extensively for the role. He shared his approach to embodying Stallone:

"Initially, I had to try to gain some weight because he was a pretty muscular guy and I was a bit leaner. Besides that, I just tried to dive as deep as possible into his filmography. He made a great film before 'Rocky' called 'Brooklyn Blues – The Law of the Gutter.' I watched as many of his films and old interviews as I could. I tried to soak it all in."

Ippolito had the unique opportunity to connect with Stallone briefly via webcam while the actor was on set for his series "Tulsa King." Reflecting on this experience, Ippolito remarked:

"It was really inspiring to hear him say all that and to talk to a man whose work has inspired me my whole life. It was incredible."

The cast of "I Play Rocky" also includes notable actors such as Matt Dillon, Stephan James, Kiki Seto, P.J. Byrne, AnnaSophia Robb, Jay Duplass, Erik Palladino, and Travy Letts. The film is scheduled to hit German theaters on November 13, 2026.