[Official Trailer] “I Play Rocky Balboa”… Sylvester Stallone’s Reckless Challenge Sparks a New Electric-Tone Biopic Film, ‘I Play Rocky,’ Trailer Released

How could a young man who was nothing more than an unknown actor become the legendary Hollywood hero ‘Rocky Balboa’? A biopic film, ’I Play Rocky (I Play Rocky)’, which captures Sylvester Stallone’s real-life Rocky-making backstory—more movie-like than the movie itself—has finally been released as an official trailer, setting the hearts of film fans around the world racing.

■ “It wasn’t just that I wrote it—I had to become Rocky” The noble gamble of an unknown actor

According to the official synopsis for ’I Play Rocky,’ released by distributor Amazon MGM Studios, the film depicts the inspiring true story of Sylvester Stallone—who fought with an unshakable conviction that he wouldn’t simply sell the screenplay he wrote for ‘Rocky,’ but that he had to become ‘Rocky Balboa’ himself.

At the time, with no money to his name, Stallone received huge offers from studios that wanted to buy the ‘Rocky’ script he had written—but he dug in, insisting on one condition: he would not hand over the script unless he was cast as the lead. His heartbreaking journey, marked by relentless rejections from production companies and established stars, and near-impossible adversity, nevertheless culminated in him securing the lead role. His tears-and-tumult path overlaps perfectly with the struggle of the film’s underdog, Rocky, and has been recorded as one of Hollywood’s most dramatic success myths.

■ Anthony Ippolito, who played ‘Al Pacino,’ now fully embodies ‘Stallone’

Newcomer Anthony Ippolito, who first made a name for himself with the Netflix drama ’Grand Army,’ was chosen to play the protagonist portraying Sylvester Stallone’s younger days.

Ippolito previously proved he has exceptional talent for recreating the spirit of a classic star of the 1970s by perfectly capturing legendary actor Al Pacino’s role in the Paramount Plus(+) original series ’The Offer,’ which covered the making of ’The Godfather.’ In the newly released trailer, he also draws admiration from viewers by recreating Stallone’s signature half-lidded look, his weighty delivery, and his one-of-a-kind silhouette.

Meanwhile, director Peter Farrelly—who grabbed the Academy Award for Best Picture with the fact-based moving drama ’Green Book’—will take the helm, raising expectations. Having recently focused mostly on light comedy, Farrelly is set to once again demonstrate his strength as a director of heavy, sincere human drama through this project.

■ From Matt Dillon to Stephan James… a luxury supporting cast to heighten the film’s realism

To depict Stallone’s brutal fight in a realistic way, this production placed Hollywood’s mix of seasoned and newer acting forces in just the right spots, pushing the completeness of the story even further.

The figure that draws the most attention is the casting of the people around Stallone—both his most dependable and his most complex, nuanced presence. Veteran actor Matt Dillon, from ’There’s Something About Mary,’ takes on the role of Frank Stallone Sr., Stallone’s stubborn father, bringing a solid presence to the screen. AnnaSophia Robb from the drama ’The Carrie Diaries’ plays Sasha Czack, the first wife who guarded his side during his days as an unknown performer—handling a warm, emotionally supportive role.

Also a key point to watch is the synchronicity with real-life figures surrounding the making of the ’Rocky’ movies in the story. Stephan James, who showed a strong, grounded performance in ’Selma,’ transforms into actor Carl Weathers, who portrayed Rocky’s enduring rival, ‘Apollo Creed,’ adding an intriguing tension behind the scenes. In addition, Jay Duplass—currently active as a director and producer—will play director John G. Avildsen, who held the megaphone for the actual original ’Rocky’ and won the Academy Award for Best Director. P.J. Byrne and Toby Kebbell, both distinctive actors, join the cast as the legendary producer duo Erwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff, respectively, who brought a historic film to the world—hinting at the birth of a well-made backstage drama.