'I Play Rocky' trailer reveals the inspiring true story behind Sylvester Stallone's breakthrough

The first trailer for I Play Rocky has been released, offering a glimpse at the true story behind Sylvester Stallone's determination to make Rocky and the extraordinary gamble that transformed him from a struggling actor into a Hollywood icon. 

Anthony Ippolito stars as a young Stallone in the biographical drama, which chronicles the actor's journey from financial hardship to writing the Oscar-winning screenplay that launched one of cinema's most enduring franchises.

The trailer follows Stallone as he refuses to sell the Rocky script unless he is allowed to star in the film himself, despite pressure from studios to cast a more established actor.

"If they want the script, they've got to take me," Stallone declares in the trailer. 

The film also depicts the personal struggles Stallone faced before his breakthrough, including financial difficulties and repeated rejection as he pursued his dream of becoming a leading man.

According to the official synopsis, I Play Rocky explores "the creation of one of the most iconic underdog stories in film history" while highlighting the perseverance that defined Stallone's early career. 

Directed by Peter Farrelly, the film features a supporting cast including Nicholas Turturro, Daniel Sauli, Elizabeth Masucci, Joe Leo Fine and Lillo Brancato.

Farrelly, best known for directing Green Book, has described the project as a celebration of resilience and determination rather than a traditional celebrity biopic. 

Released in 1976, Rocky became a global phenomenon, winning the Academy Award for Best Picture and turning Stallone into an international star. The film spawned multiple sequels and later inspired the successful Creed spin-off franchise.

The trailer ends with a recreation of Stallone's famous run up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, mirroring one of the most iconic moments in film history while teasing the emotional journey that led to its creation.

I Play Rocky is scheduled to open in US cinemas on October 30, 2026, bringing Stallone's own underdog story to the big screen nearly 50 years after Rocky first inspired audiences around the world.