The trailer for I Play Rocky has gone viral after Anthony Ippolito's uncanny portrayal of Sylvester Stallone left fans gobsmacked. The biographical picture follows Stallone's struggle to get his underdog tale onto the big screen.
Trailer Amasses Millions of Views
Amazon MGM Studios unveiled the trailer on July 15, and it has already amassed 5.5 million YouTube views, with numbers climbing rapidly. Viewers have flooded the comments section with overwhelmingly positive reactions.
One viewer commented: "When a movie's so iconic we're getting a movie about making that movie." Another added: "I mean the story behind it is just as inspirational. Plus it has the added benefit of being true."
Anthony Ippolito's Performance Praised
Many lauded actor Ippolito for his portrayal of the Rambo legend. One viewer said: "Bro is impersonating Stallone with such perfection." Another remarked: "The Apollo chuckle & smile at the end was spot on." A third observer pointed out: "Dude even looks like a younger Stallone," while a fourth commented: "This guy's going to be a star. What an incredible spot on impression of Sly Stallone. Got the voice down perfectly."
This is not Ippolito's first time embodying another screen icon; he previously portrayed Al Pacino in The Offer, which delved into the behind-the-scenes story of The Godfather. The New York-born actor has also appeared in Purple Hearts, Fool's Day, Pixels, What Would You Do?, and The English Teacher.
Plot of I Play Rocky
The film follows aspiring actor Stallone as he repeatedly fails at auditions until his girlfriend urges him to write a screenplay placing himself centre stage. In just three days, Stallone crafts the Rocky script and immediately catches a studio's attention; however, they desire "an actor" for the starring role. After negotiations and numerous purchase offers for the screenplay, Stallone eventually secures the lead role for himself.
Yet the studio imposes one major condition: should filming fall behind schedule by even a single day, Stallone will be replaced by another performer. Thus begins Stallone's dual journey both in front of and behind the camera in this meta-underdog tale of triumphing against all expectations.
Cast and Release Date
The film also stars AnnaSophia Robb, Toby Kebbell, P. J. Byrne, Stephan James, Jay Duplass, Robert Morgan, Tracy Letts, and Matt Dillon. I Play Rocky is set to debut this autumn, marking 50 years since the 1976 film first graced cinemas. It is slated for a November cinema release.
Legacy of the Original Rocky
The original Rocky film scooped four of the 10 Oscars it was nominated for, including Best Picture, and has cemented its place in pop culture history. Rocky spawned four more sequels and, more recently, the Creed spin-off films featuring Michael B. Jordan as the son of Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers).
