The first trailer for I Play Rocky has arrived, and it takes audiences back to the moment when a young, unknown Sylvester Stallone refused to give up his script unless he could play the lead role. The biographical drama, directed by Peter Farrelly, shows the real struggle behind making the 1976 classic Rocky. Anthony Ippolito plays the young Stallone, and the trailer gives a clear picture of the actor’s determination to become a star against all odds.
Amazon MGM Studios released the trailer on July 15, 2026. The film tells the true story of how Stallone, then a struggling actor, wrote the script for Rocky in just three and a half days and then fought Hollywood studios to let him star in it. The trailer shows the rejections, the financial hardships, and the moment when everything changed for the actor who would become a global icon.
The Trailer Shows Stallone’s Early Struggles
The I Play Rocky trailer opens with a young Stallone, who went by the name Mike, going to auditions and trying to make it as an actor. He faces constant rejection. His father, Frank Stallone Sr., played by Matt Dillon, tells him he does not have the looks or the voice to be a movie star. This connects to Stallone’s real life, where he was bullied as a child because of his face and slurred speech, which came from a complication at birth.
His wife at the time, Sasha Czack, played by AnnaSophia Robb, encourages him to keep going. The trailer then shows Stallone writing the Rocky script to prove his worth to casting directors and studios.
When Stallone first approaches producers Irwin Winkler, played by P.J. Byrne, and Robert Chartoff, played by Toby Kebbell, they love the script. But they want to cast a known actor like Charles Bronson or Clint Eastwood as Rocky. Stallone firmly tells them, “I play Rocky”. The producers are not happy. They keep offering him money to sell the rights without starring in the film. He refuses an offer of $200,000 and says he will not give up even for $10 million.
The Actor Who Became Stallone
Anthony Ippolito plays the young Sylvester Stallone in the film. The 26-year-old actor bears a strong resemblance to a younger Stallone. He also captures Stallone’s voice, which the trailer describes as sounding like “you’ve got rocks in your mouth”.
Ippolito previously played a young Al Pacino in the Paramount+ series The Offer, which told the story of making The Godfather. He won the role of Stallone by sending an unsolicited audition tape as soon as he heard about the project.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to portray Sylvester Stallone in this inspiring story. It is an absolute dream come true.”
The cast also includes Stephan James as Carl Weathers, who played Apollo Creed in the original Rocky films. Weathers passed away in 2024. Matt Dillon plays Frank Stallone Sr.. AnnaSophia Robb plays Sasha Czack, Stallone’s first wife. Other cast members include Tracy Letts, Jay Duplass, Kiki Seto, and P.J. Byrne.
The Gamble That Changed Everything
The trailer shows the high-stakes gamble Stallone took. The producers finally agree to let him star, but on one condition. As Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler tell him, “If you ever fall one day behind schedule, they’re gonna kick you to the curb and they can replace you with a real actor”. Stallone accepts the terms and does not fall a single day behind schedule, not even when his hand breaks during a mishap on set.
The film also shows director John G. Avildsen, played by Jay Duplass, giving advice to Stallone when he doubts himself. The trailer ends with Stallone saying: “This movie is about having a belief in yourself. It’s about going the distance. I put my heart and soul on the page. If I’m not willing to live up to what I wrote… then what’s the point? So, do you believe in me or not?”
The official synopsis for I Play Rocky reads: “The film is an electrifying true story about an unknown actor with an unshakable belief that he wasn’t just meant to write Rocky—he was meant to be Rocky Balboa. Told ‘no’ at every turn, Sylvester Stallone bets everything on himself, holding the line on playing the lead against seemingly impossible odds”.
The Real Story Behind Rocky
The original Rocky film was released in 1976 and became a global phenomenon. It was made on a budget of under $1 million and went on to make $225 million worldwide. The film won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Stallone was nominated for Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay.
The success of Rocky launched one of the most successful sports movie franchises in Hollywood history. The series includes six Rocky movies and three Creed spin-off films, which have grossed $1.9 billion at the global box office. Stallone wrote all of the Rocky movies and Creed II.
I Play Rocky is directed by Peter Farrelly, who won Oscars for Green Book. The screenplay is written by Peter Gamble. The film is being positioned as an awards contender for Amazon MGM Studios.
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Release Details for I Play Rocky
I Play Rocky will have a limited release in select theaters on November 6, 2026. The film will then expand to more theaters later in November. Some sources report a release date of November 5 in certain regions. The film is expected to have a wider release around Thanksgiving. The Motion Picture Association has rated the film PG-13 for strong language.
The release comes nearly 50 years after the original Rocky film first inspired audiences around the world. Stallone celebrated his 80th birthday on July 6, 2026. He continues to work on screen with the Paramount+ series Tulsa King.
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