Peter Farrelly premiered his film “I Play Rocky” at the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday night. The movie chronicles the inspiration for and creation of the 1976 best picture winner “Rocky,” directed by John G. Avildsen and starring Sylvester Stallone. The film received polarized critical response but generated enthusiastic audience reception, including mid-film applause and a lengthy standing ovation.
The lead role is played by 27-year-old Anthony Ippolito, a previously unknown actor who portrays Stallone. Industry observers note that Ippolito’s performance channels Stallone’s distinctive appearance and speech patterns, and his casting has drawn comparisons to Stallone’s own breakthrough 50 years ago. The film is produced by Amazon/MGM and will begin theatrical release in the United States on November 6.
According to Farrelly and Ippolito, Stallone was consulted during production and shown the finished film, with the director reporting Stallone’s approval. However, Stallone held no direct involvement in the project and will not financially benefit from it. This situation carries potential complications, as Stallone has previously expressed displeasure about not receiving equity stakes in Rocky-related properties, publicly criticizing original producer Irwin Winkler in 2022.
The film portrays both original producers, Winkler and Robert Chartoff, sympathetically through supporting actors. Winkler, now 95, makes a cameo appearance, and Chartoff’s widow attended the premiere, suggesting satisfaction with the project from those circles. Industry analysts note that Stallone’s public position on the film could significantly impact its Oscar prospects, either positively or negatively, depending on his response to the production and portrayal.
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