Anthony Ippolito stars in biographical film about Sylvester Stallone

The biographical film ‘I Play Rocky’ (released in Italy as ‘Rocky sono io’), directed by Peter Farrelly, chronicles the early life and career struggles of Sylvester Stallone. The film depicts Stallone’s journey from an unknown, impoverished actor to the creator of the iconic ‘Rocky Balboa’ character.

Central to the narrative is Stallone’s refusal to sell the ‘Rocky’ screenplay to producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff unless he was cast in the lead role. The film explores the industry's initial rejection of Stallone due to his speech patterns and physical appearance, as well as his personal life, including his relationship with Sasha Czack and his bond with his dog, Butkus.

Actor Anthony Ippolito portrays the young Stallone, receiving critical acclaim for his physical and vocal resemblance to the actor. Ippolito was honored with the Progressive Award for his career at the Rome Film Festival during the film's presentation. The cast also includes Matt Dillon as Stallone’s father, Anna Sophia Robb as Sasha Czack, and Stephan James as Carl Weathers.