Anthony Ippolito channels ‘Rocky’ aura to portray young Stallone

<Los Angeles, November 5> — When Anthony Ippolito learned that a new Rocky-themed film was in development, he took matters into his own hands. The 27-year-old actor rigged up a punching bag in his grandmother’s basement and improvised his audition, showcasing his dedication to securing a role as the young Sylvester Stallone. “I just really wanted to try to get my foot in the door for it if possible,” Ippolito told AFP.

“I was kind of just making stuff and sending it their way, just hoping they would respond.” Thankfully, his bold move paid off. Peter Farrelly, the Oscar-winning director of Green Book, directed the biographical drama I Play Rocky, which chronicles Stallone’s early life when he slept on the streets and harbored dreams of making it big in Hollywood.

Stallone impressed two producers after writing a screenplay about a boxer who, despite facing numerous obstacles, secures a life-changing opportunity when American champion Apollo Creed, portrayed by Carl Weathers, challenges him to a fight. The narrative drew from Stallone’s own life, who struggled financially to the point of selling his dog due to a lack of funds for its sustenance.

Stallone famously declined lucrative studio offers in exchange for the opportunity to play the lead role, and Rocky went on to become a cultural phenomenon, winning three Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Now, five decades after the original film's release, Ippolito’s audition has opened the doors of Hollywood to the up-and-coming actor.

One of Stallone’s suggestions for the film was to cast a lesser-known actor, and Ippolito’s audition impressed the casting team with his ability to capture Stallone’s mannerisms and physique. Despite the pressure of portraying both Stallone and the iconic character of Rocky, Ippolito recognized the profound connection audiences have with the character.

“It’s such a hero to people who have an almost spiritual connection to his story,” he said. Stallone met with Ippolito a month before filming began and shared the story of his own struggles, including a birth-related facial paralysis that made pursuing an acting career more challenging. For Frank Stallone, watching a film that depicts his brother’s challenges was “very touching,” while Bill Conti, who composed the iconic theme song “Gonna Fly Now,” emphasized that the film is “a story about a story.”

Ippolito hopes his portrayal serves as a love letter to Stallone’s perseverance and the art of filmmaking.