I Play Rocky gives the playbook on making a dream a reality, as Anthony Ippolito brings Sylvester Stallone’s life to the screen.
The film made its public debut at the VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre at TIFF 2026. I Play Rocky tells the true story of Stallone, his journey, and his commitment to becoming an actor. Written by Peter Gamble and directed by Peter Farrelly, the film is another strong production coming from Amazon MGM studios.
Many of us do not know the full story of how Stallone got his start. He was a young man with no significant background in film and became what some would call an overnight movie star. After all, this film was released before the age of social media and the internet. I Play Rocky gives us a glimpse into the determination and the obstacles faced by Stallone. Specifically, he faces all of these on his journey to making one of the most canonical pieces in movie history. Most importantly, the film shows why betting on yourself, when you are sure of your dream, is worth it.
In the film we meet a young Stallone, trying to break into the world of acting in the 1970s. Like the industry now, this is not easy. With encouragement from his future wife Sasha (played by AnnaSophia Robb), Stallone pursues his dream, leading them to Los Angeles. His first big break in LA is not an acting gig; it lies in the potential of him being a writer.
Photo Courtesy: Amazon/MGM
A chance meeting allows him to cross paths with producers Irwin Winkler (played by P.J. Byrne) and Bob Chartoff (played by Toby Kebbell). The two take a liking to a screen play Stallone sneaks into their review pile. One day, inspiration strikes Stallone while watching the Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner fight at a local bar. This is the genesis for the screenplay Rocky, which takes the talented Stallone only three and a half days to write.
Here Stallone, and the audience, get a first-class lesson in not only negotiation but in standing firm in your vision. While the producers are impressed, they want to get an A-list actor to play the role of Rocky. Stallone’s response is simple, “I play Rocky.” This continues to be Stallone’s response as the studio executives go from offering $20,000 to more than ten times that. The studio’s only ask: Stallone would only be the writer and would not play the role he literally wrote for himself.
Eventually a compromise is reached, but it comes with its own stipulations and challenges for the young couple. We see Winkler and Chartoff go from being just studio producers concerned with making a movie. Eventually, they become true believers in the talented Stallone.
In fact, we watch the entire theater become true believers of Stallone. As the movie enters the final stretch, the audience goes along for the ride of creating Rocky. The film takes us to the iconic scene of Rocky running up the stairs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. We later close with the premiere night of the film, where we join and rejoice with Stallone as his dream becomes reality.
Photo Courtesy: Amazon/MGM
The parallels between the journey of Stallone’s creation of Rocky and Ippolito bringing Stallone’s journey to life are worth noting. I Play Rocky gives a glimpse into the components needed to bring a dream to life. They include: a support network that believes in you, like Stallone’s wife. Next are sponsors who are willing to put their reputations on the line because of belief in you, like Winkler and Chartoff. The final piece for this all to work is the will not to give up on the vision you have. No one could have played Rocky the way Stallone did, and this movie proved it. I Play Rocky hits theaters on a limited release November 6. The film then becomes available across theaters on November 20.
