The Lead: On July 15, 2026, Amazon MGM Studios and IMDb shared the first trailer for I Play Rocky starring Anthony Ippolito as Sylvester Stallone, arriving in theaters on Friday, November 20.
TLDR
- Release Date: November 20, 2026
- Director: Peter Farrelly
- Screenplay: Peter Gamble Robinson
- Cast: Anthony Ippolito, Matt Dillon, AnnaSophia Robb, Stephan James, Kiki Seto
Synopsis: “I Play Rocky 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.”
In 1976, Sylvester Stallone bet on himself and created Rocky from scratch. Six movies, a successful spin-off franchise, and five decades later, Amazon MGM Studios are making a film about the making of the film. Starring Anthony Ippolito as Stallone and Stephan James as Carl Weathers, I Play Rocky explores how Stallone fought to bring his vision to life, insisting on starring in the lead role despite industry skepticism. What began as a long-shot passion project went on to redefine the sports drama and launch one of Hollywood’s most enduring franchises.
I Play Rocky is the center piece of the franchise’s celebration of the first film’s 50th birthday. In Philadelphia, thousands of fans of the franchise are expected to descend upon the City of Brotherly Love for RockyFest. The festival is described as “a once-in-a-generation celebration honoring the city’s most legendary underdog and the iconic Philly locations that made cinematic history.” In addition, the Academy Award-winning picture will head back to theaters for a limited run in early November as it receives a 4K makeover.
Fans of the franchise can get a refresher on Netflix. Currently, the original, as well as the Creed franchise is streaming on the platform.
