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There may already be six Rocky movies and three Creed spin-offs out there for your viewing pleasure, but if like us, you just can\u2019t get enough of the \u201cItalian Stallion,\u201d the news that Anthony Ippolito is set to channel Sylvester Stallone\u2014to tell the fabled story of how the original movie got the green light, will be welcome news. And, if the newly released trailer is anything to go by, the box office can take our money right now.<\/span><\/p>\n Stallone fans already know that he was a struggling actor, failing to find his footing in Hollywood before taking matters into his own hands and writing a winning script, but not everyone knows the challenges that Sly faced to play the starring role of his own creation. While producers loved the underdog story of a no-named challenger who is given a million-to-one-shot chance at the heavyweight title, they wanted anyone but Stallone on the poster. Instead, the young actor was offered increasing sums of money to sell the rights<\/a> and walk away, so that the likes of Burt Reynolds or Ryan O\u2019Neil could don the gloves instead<\/span><\/p>\n Despite his dire financial situation, Sly kept the faith, insisting that he would only sell the script if he could play Rocky Balboa, backing himself in a move that made him a true underdog in his own right. \u201cI Play Rocky\u201d tells the story of Stallone\u2019s battle with the Hollywood elite, recounting the trials and tribulations of bringing one of the most popular movies of all time to the big screen.<\/span><\/p>\n Set to play Sylvester Stallone, Anthony Ippolito has form when it comes to portraying Hollywood icons. The actor played Al Pacino in the 2022 miniseries, The Offer<\/em><\/span>\u00a0and bears more than a passing resemblance to Sly in publicity shots released for the new project, depicting\u00a0 Ippolito in those infamous grey sweats.<\/span><\/p>\n Sly, who was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for his performance, in 1977, has previously confirmed that the movie was commissioned without any direct contact, but that he was open to consulting on the project. Recently, Stallone has lent his support for \u201cI Play Rocky\u201d on social media<\/a>, taking to Instagram to write, \u201cEvery story has a beginning, and I\u2019m excited to see this one brought to life. Congratulations to the cast and crew of \u2018I Play Rocky.\u2019 Keep punching.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n With 20 million YouTube views and counting for the trailer alone, demand for Philadelphia\u2019s most famous fictional boxer appears to be just as high as ever. \u201cBoth Rocky and Apollo\u2019s casting is freaking great,\u201d commented one excited fan. \u201cBro is impersonating Stallone with such perfection,\u201d wrote another. \u201cThe underdog story about an underdog story,\u201d added yet another.<\/span><\/p>\nWhat Is the \u2018I Play Rocky\u2019 Movie About?<\/h2>\n
Who Plays Young Sylvester Stallone in \u2018I Play Rocky\u2019?<\/h2>\n
Is Sylvester Stallone Aware of \u2018I Play Rocky\u2019?<\/h2>\n
Watch the Official Movie Trailer For \u2018I Play Rocky\u2019<\/h2>\n