The story behind Rocky is almost as legendary as the film itself. Now, a new biopic titled I Play Rocky is set to bring that behind-the-scenes drama to the big screen, and the first trailer has just dropped.
Directed by Peter Farrelly—the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind Green Book—the film stars Anthony Ippolito as a young Sylvester Stallone, fighting tooth and nail to get his script made. The trailer shows Stallone's relentless pursuit of a studio willing to let him play the lead role of Rocky Balboa, a condition that nearly derailed the project entirely.
The script was inspired by the real-life underdog story of boxer Chuck Wepner, who went the distance with Muhammad Ali. But for Stallone, the deal was simple: he had to star. The trailer captures his struggle to convince producers Irwin Winkler (played by P.J. Byrne) and Robert Chartoff (Toby Kebbell) to take a chance on an unknown actor. Once they agree, the real work begins—Stallone must transform into a believable boxer, a compelling actor, and eventually a movie star.
Beyond Stallone, the film also portrays key figures from the original Rocky production. Stephan James plays Apollo Creed actor Carl Weathers, Robert Morgan takes on the role of Mickey actor Burgess Meredith, and Kiki Seto portrays Adrian actress Talia Shire. Director John Avildsen is played by Jay Duplass, while Matt Dillon appears as Stallone's father, Frank Stallone Sr., and AnnaSophia Robb plays his then-wife, Sasha Czack.
Interestingly, Stallone himself is not involved in the production of I Play Rocky, though he is producing another project, John Rambo, which revisits one of his earliest iconic roles. The biopic is written by Peter Gamble, known for Office Uprising.
The trailer also teases the emotional weight of Stallone's journey, from rejection to triumph. It's a story that resonates beyond the ring, touching on themes of perseverance and self-belief. For fans of great opening scenes in film history, the making of Rocky is a classic underdog tale in its own right.
I Play Rocky is set to hit theaters on November 13, courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios. The film promises to deliver a knockout punch for anyone who loves a good comeback story—both in and out of the ring.
