What I Play Rocky is about: the pre-making of Rocky retold for today
We’re all hearing the buzz about a new film called I Play Rocky. It’s essentially a Sylvester Stallone biopic that just moved into production, with cameras rolling right now. Amazon MGM is behind it. Peter Farrelly is directing. And the lead is Anthony Ippolito, stepping in as a young Sylvester Stallone.
The goal is pretty clear. This feature tells the story of how Stallone wrote the original Rocky, still one of the greatest underdog wins in cinema. Fans have long heard the tale of the three-day script, the near-misses, and the refusal to sell the lead. It has been told on talk shows, in documentaries, and interviews for decades. Yet it never loses its grip. A fresh telling can potentially bring new eyes to the fight that built the film.
What I Play Rocky Is Aiming to Do
I Play Rocky dramatizes the grind before the premiere. Young Stallone is broke, stubborn, and writing like his life depends on it. Peter Farrelly guides the story from a script by Peter Gamble. Producers Toby Emmerich and Christian Baha are steering the build with Amazon MGM.
The official IMDB synopsis reads: “A failing actor writes the ultimate underdog story and must fight for his chance to play the role of a lifetime – Rocky Balboa.”
The plan is theatrical release first. These days, when so many projects head straight to streaming, getting a theatrical rollout is unusual and promising. The film is not a sequel or a prequel, really. It is the origin of the origin. The focus stays on the decisions, meetings, and people who shaped the first movie. For newcomers, that’s a door into the Rocky series. For veteran Rockheads, it is a chance to compare memory with a new dramatization and notice what still hits.
Anthony Ippolito: Why He Fits for a Young Sylvester Stallone
Anthony Ippolito really does resemble young Sylvester Stallone. He’s 26, so a couple of years younger than Stallone was when he was writing Rocky, which adds a raw, early-career energy. Hair and makeup push the likeness even further. In the set photos circulating this week, he looks like a guy who just walked out of 1975 Philadelphia with a script tucked under his arm. Pretty good, so far.
Ippolito also played Al Pacino in The Offer. Many fans have pointed out for years that young Sly and young Pacino look like they could be distant Italian cousins. That visual echo is fun here, especially with the Talia Shire connection between The Godfather and Rocky. Shire bridges those worlds for long-time movie lovers, and it gives this casting a little extra spark.
Where I Play Rocky is filming now: New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles
Production is active. Crews have been spotted in New Jersey, with additional work tied to Philadelphia and Los Angeles. The Jersey streets match the 70s row-house texture well. They give the lenses brick, narrow sidewalks, and small storefronts that feel right for the period. Philadelphia is also in the mix. It would be surprising if the team skipped the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The steps are a heartbeat in this story.
The Butkus Factor: Dog Actor Does Resemble the Real Butkus
The production hired a male Bullmastiff to play Butkus. From the photos we’ve seen, this dog carries a strong resemblance to Stallone’s real buddy (and co-star in Rocky and Rocky II). Dog owners know that even within one breed, faces vary a lot. This Bullmastiff has a sweet face that reads very close to Butkus. Good call by the animal casting department!
The People Behind the People
I Play Rocky brings together a mix of recognizable names and solid character talent. What makes this cast especially interesting is the balance between the behind-the-scenes figures who helped make the original Rocky happen — the producers, the director, and the people who believed in Stallone’s script — and the small handful of familiar on-screen characters from the film itself. So far, only a few names directly connected to the movie’s story are confirmed to appear: Carl Weathers, Talia Shire, Burgess Meredith, and of course, Butkus the dog.
Quick Overview of the I Play Rocky Cast
Stephan James, who broke out in If Beale Street Could Talk and starred in Amazon’s Homecoming, steps into the role of Carl Weathers. James has a grounded intensity that fits the former NFL player turned actor who made Apollo Creed unforgettable.
Twenty-something-year-old actress Kiki Seto has been tapped to play Talia Shire, and this marks a big step in her rising career. Previously seen in projects like The Studio (2025) and the short film Death Doula (2024), Seto is a pretty and petite brunette who has a vague Adrian-like resemblance. At the news of her casting, she wrote “No words, just shivers” on her Instagram.
AnnaSophia Robb, known for Bridge to Terabithia and The Act, plays Sasha Czack, Stallone’s first wife. She brings a combination of warmth and resolve to the role — the kind of energy needed to capture what it must have been like standing beside Stallone during the struggle to get Rocky made.
P.J. Byrne takes on Irwin Winkler, one of the producers who helped turn the original Rocky script into a studio project. You’ve likely seen Byrne as the loudmouthed stockbroker in The Wolf of Wall Street or in Big Little Lies. His fast-talking delivery should make him a good fit for the Hollywood backroom energy of the time.
Toby Kebbell, recognizable from War for the Planet of the Apes and Kong: Skull Island, portrays Robert Chartoff, the other half of the producing duo who bet on Stallone’s dream. Kebbell’s quiet authority should help balance Byrne’s energy and highlight the creative tension between producers and writer.
Jay Duplass steps in as John G. Avildsen, the director who would go on to win an Oscar for Rocky. Known for his work on Transparent and The Chair, Duplass brings a naturalistic style that matches Avildsen’s understated storytelling approach — an important tone to capture on screen.
Robert Morgan, best known for roles in Hacksaw Ridge and The Accountant 2, takes on Burgess Meredith. This guy does have a decent resemblance to Meredith, and certainly with the right costumes and makeup, his look can push into believable Mickey Goldmill territory.
And finally, Matt Dillon appears as Frank Stallone Sr. Dillon, a longtime Hollywood veteran from Crash and The Outsiders, looks a little like Sly’s dad in full hair and makeup.
Together, this lineup gives I Play Rocky real range. These actors bring experience from across genres — drama, biopic, and character-driven film — the exact mix needed to make the stakes behind the camera feel as real as the ones inside the ring.
How Stallone Feels About I Play Rocky — Supportive but Staying Hands-Off
Stallone has signaled rather vague and distant public support for this project. He called the script “wonderful” in August and wished the team luck as filming started. He is not listed as a producer, or referenced on the film’s official IMDB in any way.
Meanwhile, Sly’s workload stays heavy. New Tulsa King episodes keep him in the cultural conversation. His memoir, The Rocky Steps, brings his own voice to the founding story. Fans can engage with I Play Rocky while still hearing Sly explain the era in his words.
Why This Story Works Right Now
An old familiar story can still feel urgent if it’s told with care. The timing helps. A new wave of viewers found the franchise through the Creed films and streaming. They know the training runs and the music, but not always the trench work that got the first film onto a set. I Play Rocky gives that context in a single sitting. It shows how an unknown writer protected his role, held the line, and pulled a small picture into a big result.
Quick Answers Fans Want Now
- Release format: Theatrical first, then streaming later.
- Distributor: Amazon MGM Studios.
- Timing: Production is underway now. A late-2026 window is likely.
This is a living story. I Play Rocky is filming now, and more pieces will lock in each week. Until then, revisit the originals, scan the steps, and stay ready for the next update.
