Amazon MGM Studios will release I Play Rocky in U.S. theaters on November 20, 2026, with a limited release beginning November 13. The timing marks the 50th anniversary of the original Rocky, which premiered on November 21, 1976. This Sylvester Stallone Rocky biopic revisits the creation of the iconic boxing film and Stallone’s early challenges as an actor and writer.
Story Focuses on Stallone’s Determination and Early Career
Directed by Oscar-winner Peter Farrelly, known for Green Book, and scripted by Peter Gamble, I Play Rocky follows Stallone’s determined fight to bring Rocky to life. Anthony Ippolito portrays a young Sylvester Stallone, capturing the actor’s struggle to secure the lead role amid industry rejections and financial hardships. At age 29, Stallone battled a speech impediment and partial facial paralysis while writing the script and insisted on starring in the film, turning down lucrative offers and helping fund the project himself for under $1 million.
Cast and Production Team Behind the New Biopic
The film features a supporting cast including Matt Dillon, AnnaSophia Robb, P.J. Byrne, Toby Kebbell, Tracy Letts, Jay Duplass, and Stephan James as Carl Weathers. Additional roles are filled by Kiki Seto, Robert Morgan, Saul Stein, Trevor St. John, Erik Palladino, and Rob Demery. FilmNation Entertainment oversaw production services and managed international sales. Producers Toby Emmerich, Christian Baha, and Peter Farrelly collaborated closely on the project.
“When I first read Peter Gamble’s energetic and poignant script, I knew it captured something very special,”
Christian Baha said in 2024, emphasizing the script’s impact (via Variety). Anthony Ippolito, previously recognized for portraying Al Pacino in Paramount’s limited series The Offer, takes on his second role depicting a renowned Italian–American actor.
Significance of the Film’s Release on the 50th Anniversary
I Play Rocky aims to dramatize how Stallone persevered through obstacles to make a film that ultimately earned over $200 million worldwide and won Best Picture at the 1977 Academy Awards. By releasing the biopic on the landmark anniversary of Rocky, the film underscores Stallone’s enduring legacy in American cinema and the historic significance of his breakthrough role. Audiences can expect a detailed portrayal of the behind-the-scenes story that inspired a cultural phenomenon and shaped Stallone’s career.
