The tumultuous story behind the making of the 1976 film Rocky

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: How does an underdog become a cinematic legend? A new biographical drama explores the chaotic production of the 1976 classic Rocky, tracing the struggle to get the film off the ground and the unlikely triumph of its creator, Sylvester Stallone.

Directed by Peter Farrelly and written by Peter Gamble, "I Play Rocky" is a 2026 biographical drama that examines the development and production of the iconic 1976 film Rocky. The film stars Anthony Ippolito as a young Sylvester Stallone, portraying the screenwriter and actor who famously played Rocky Balboa. The production, which was described as tumultuous, was first announced in May 2024 at the Cannes Market. While the film has received generally positive critical reception, opinions on its execution vary. Rotten Tomatoes lists 84% of 43 critic reviews as positive, averaging 7.2/10. A score of 63/100 was given by Metacritic from 20 critics, suggesting "generally favorable" feedback.

However, some critics have been less enthusiastic; for instance, Robert Daniels of ScreenDaily characterized the film as an "uninventive crowd pleaser" that lacks the original movie's humanism. Despite the film's focus on Stallone's journey, the actor himself noted that he was not contacted regarding the project and only learned of its existence through the news. Nevertheless, he has expressed openness to acting as a consultant for the production. The film's release schedule was adjusted during its rollout, with its limited theatrical release by Amazon MGM Studios moving up from November 13, 2026, to November 6, 2026, before expanding nationwide on November 20.

The film's cast is extensive, featuring AnnaSophia Robb as Sasha Czack, Sylvester's wife, and Matt Dillon as his father, Frank Stallone Sr. Other notable cast members include Toby Kebbell as producer Robert Chartoff, P. J. Byrne as producer Irwin Winkler, and Stephan James as Carl Weathers, who played Apollo Creed.

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