(Image source: MGM Studios)
Last May, Peter Farrelly, the acclaimed director behind "Green Book" and the "Dumb and Dumber" franchise, signed on to helm "I Play Rocky." The film, as its title suggests, will chronicle Sylvester Stallone's journey to bring his iconic boxer character, Rocky Balboa, to the big screen. Specifically, it will delve into Stallone's arduous process of writing the script, pitching it to various studios, and ultimately securing the funding to produce the original "Rocky" film. After more than a year in development, Farrelly has now cast the actor who will portray a young Stallone.
(Image source: Paramount Pictures)
The Hollywood Reporter (THR) exclusively revealed that Anthony Ippolito, the "Purple Hearts" star who shares Italian heritage with Stallone, has been cast as the young Sylvester Stallone. This isn't Ippolito's first time portraying a legendary Italian-American actor; he previously played a young Al Pacino in the Paramount+ miniseries "The Offer" (pictured above). Both "The Offer" and "I Play Rocky" delve into the behind-the-scenes genesis of iconic film franchises, with "The Offer" focusing on the making of the original "The Godfather."