Stallone Biopic Begins Production, First Image Released

Amazon MGM Studios’ biopic I Play Rocky, directed by Oscar-winner Peter Farrelly and written by Peter Gamble, has begun production and released a first image showing Anthony Ippolito as a young Sylvester Stallone. The film chronicles Stallone’s late‑1960s–1976 struggle to write Rocky and insist on starring in it, refusing buyout offers and helping the 1976 movie become a Best Picture winner. The ensemble cast includes Stephan James as Carl Weathers, AnnaSophia Robb as Sasha Czack, Matt Dillon as Frank Stallone Sr., and supporting players P.J. Byrne, Tracy Letts and Jay Duplass; producers include Farrelly, Toby Emmerich and Christian Baha. Shoots have been spotted in New Jersey, including outside Elizabeth’s Ritz Theatre, and promotional photos show Ippolito in vintage Rocky gear running with a dog portraying Butkus. Stallone has posted public good wishes for the production, and no official release date has been announced, though some outlets expect a 2026 window.