Peter Farrelly directed the film from a script by Peter Gamble. It follows a young Sylvester Stallone, played by Anthony Ippolito, as he fights to star in ‘Rocky,’ the 1976 film he wrote.
There’s something magical about a film like I Play Rocky premiering at The Chinese Theater. A cool moment for everyone involve the highlights working hard and givings your dreams a fighting chance. We got to chat with the cast on the red carpet during AFI fest. Anthony Ippolito commanded the role of playing Sylvester Stallone and nails it. There has even been Oscar nod chatter for him and the cast.
Ippolito has a history with The Knockturnal. He first spoke with the outlet at 14, on the carpet for Pixels. He mentioned Stallone’s story was one he heard often as a young performer, and he submitted an audition tape before casting had even opened.
“You hear certain stories growing up as an actor and Stallone story was one of them,” Ippolito said. “It kind of didn’t feel that possible at certain points but here we are.”
AnnaSophia Robb plays Sasha Czack, the first wife of Stallone. She chose a New York accent for the character as soon as she read the audition sides. Stallone himself also helped shape the part. “Sly actually wrote a note that was passed along to me describing their marriage as two rocks leaning against each other and that she was sunshine,” Robb said.
Stephan James, who plays Carl Weathers, used his wardrobe to honor the late actor. Weathers died in 2024. For the night, James wore a bespoke three-piece suit from King & Bay modeled on the white suit Weathers wore to the Philadelphia premiere of Rocky II. He chose a brooch in place of the real rose from the original look, and he said he wanted “to pay homage to him in whatever way I could.”
P.J. Byrne plays producer Irwin Winkler. He described the story as a chance to watch “art win over accounting,” and he called it the biggest part he has had in a film. “If you do the work you believe in yourself you surround yourself with like minded people that believe in you anything is possible,” Byrne said.
Jay Duplass plays Rocky director John G. Avildsen. Duplass is a director in real life, and the original Rocky is his favorite movie. He called the experience a dream. “I got paid to go to Philly and like pretend like I directed my favorite movie,” Duplass said.
Kiki Seto makes her feature debut as Talia Shire. Before acting, she actually worked as an interior designer and later as a software designer. “I think miracles exist and I think this film shows that because Sylvester Stallone’s journey is so inspirational,” Seto said.
Farrelly and the cast held a Q&A after the screening. An after party followed across the street at The Hollywood Roosevelt. I Play Rocky opens in select theaters on November 6 and expands nationwide on November 20.
