“I Play Rocky”

Tells The Untold Hollywood Underdog Story

Behind The Fight Sylvester Stallone

Had To Win Before Rocky Balboa Ever Entered the Ring!

(July 21st) - Amazon MGM Studios is bringing audiences the extraordinary behind-the-scenes story of one of cinema’s greatest underdog triumphs with    “I Play Rocky” an upcoming biographical drama chronicling the relentless determination, personal sacrifice, and career-defining gamble that led struggling actor and writer Sylvester Stallone to create and star in the 1976 classic “Rocky.” Directed by Academy Award winner Peter Farrelly and written by Peter Gamble, the film explores the real-life battle Stallone faced when Hollywood wanted his screenplay but did not want him in the lead role.

Starring Anthony Ippolito as a young Sylvester Stallone, “I Play Rocky” follows the then-unknown actor’s refusal to surrender ownership of his vision. Despite financial hardship, career struggles, and pressure from studios to attach a more established star, Stallone insisted that he alone should portray Rocky Balboa, the fictional boxer he created. The film presents the ultimate creative gamble: an artist choosing to bet on himself rather than sell away the opportunity that would define his career.

The story revisits the extraordinary journey behind “Rocky,” a film that transformed from a modest boxing drama into a worldwide cultural phenomenon. Released in 1976, “Rocky” became the highest-grossing film of that year, earned 10 Academy Award nominations, and won three Oscars, including Best Picture. The movie’s success launched Stallone into international stardom and created one of Hollywood’s most enduring sports franchises.

The ensemble cast of “I Play Rocky” includes AnnaSophia Robb, Stephan James, Matt Dillon, Toby Kebbell, P.J. Byrne, Jay Duplass, Tracy Letts, Robert Morgan and additional performers portraying key figures connected to the making of the original “Rocky.” The film recreates the creative, personal, and professional relationships surrounding the production, including the producers, filmmakers, and performers who helped bring Stallone’s unlikely vision to the screen.

The film also explores the personal obstacles that shaped Stallone’s determination during his early years, including his struggles as an aspiring actor, financial instability, and the difficult choices he faced while trying to break into Hollywood. While many of the legendary details surrounding Stallone’s journey have become part of Hollywood folklore, “I Play Rocky” centers on the documented core of the story: a struggling performer who refused to separate himself from the character he created.

“I Play Rocky” is directed by Peter Farrelly, whose previous work includes the Academy Award-winning drama “Green Book,” and features cinematography by Sean Porter. The film is produced by Toby Emmerich, Christian Baha, Peter Farrelly and Paul Currie.

The film arrives nearly 50 years after the original “Rocky” premiered in 1976, continuing a legacy built around perseverance, ambition, and the belief that impossible odds can be overcome. “I Play Rocky” is positioned as the ultimate underdog story behind the ultimate underdog movie — a Hollywood origin story about a fighter who had to win his biggest battle before audiences ever saw him enter the ring.

Amazon MGM Studios is scheduled to release “I Play Rocky” in theaters beginning with a limited U.S. theatrical engagement on November 6, 2026, followed by a wider theatrical release on November 20, 2026.

ABOUT “I PLAY ROCKY”

Title: I Play Rocky

Genre: Biographical Drama / Hollywood Origin Story

Director: Peter Farrelly

Writer: Peter Gamble

Distributor: Amazon MGM Studios

Lead Actor: Anthony Ippolito as young Sylvester Stallone

Release: November 6, 2026 (limited theatrical); Nov 20, 2026 (wider release)

Focus: The true story behind Sylvester Stallone’s determination to write and star in Rocky despite overwhelming industry resistance.

Note: Sylvester Stallone is not listed as an official participant in the production. Reports indicate Stallone previously stated that he was not involved with the film and was surprised by the project’s development.