{
  "id": 7026662,
  "title": "‘I Play Rocky’ Star Anthony Ippolito Filmed His Own Audition Before He Even Had the Script",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/i-play-rocky-star-anthony-ippolito-filmed-his-own-audition-before-he",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-13T00:41:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TheWrap",
    "slug": "thewrap",
    "url": "https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/anthony-ippolito-i-play-rocky-how-he-was-cast-interview/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Actor Anthony Ippolito, who portrays Sylvester Stallone in the biopic \"I Play Rocky,\" surprised everyone by filming his own audition before he even received the script. The aspiring star, who played a young Stallone in the film detailing the challenges of getting \"Rocky\" made, had heard about the project through a news article. Undeterred, Ippolito set up a heavy bag in his grandmother's basement and used his imagination to capture the character's physicality. He filmed the audition with a friend who was an aspiring director and his cousin, describing the experience as both risky and enjoyable. When he sent the audition to the film's producers, it impressed them enough to request a proper audition. Feeling confident, Ippolito continued to shoot more scenes on his own before landings the role. \"I Play Rocky\" follows Stallone's commitment to writing and starring in the film, despite being rejected multiple times. The movie, which earned Stallone an Oscar nomination for Best Actor and a nomination for Best Supporting Actor for the sequel \"Creed,\" is set to be released in theaters on November 6.",
  "summary": "TIFF 2026: The actor who portrays Sylvester Stallone in Peter Farrelly's film about the making of \"Rocky\" made a self-tape after reading an article about the project The post ‘I Play Rocky’ Star Anthony Ippolito Filmed His Own Audition Before He Even Had the Script appeared first on TheWrap .",
  "key_points": [
    "Anthony Ippolito filmed audition before receiving script.",
    "Ippolito practiced Sylvester Stallone's physicality in basement.",
    "Ippolito's self-audition impressed producers, leading to role."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Filming his own audition without a script demonstrated Ippolito's bold initiative, which not only impressed producers but also likely set him apart from other aspiring actors for the role.",
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/7026662.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Hollywood Reporter",
        "title": "Anthony Ippolito on Speaking to Sylvester Stallone Before Filming ‘I Play Rocky’: “Very Overwhelming and Daunting”",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/anthony-ippolito-on-speaking-to-sylvester-stallone-before-filming-i",
        "published": "2026-09-13T01:15:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Variety",
        "title": "‘I Play Rocky’ Review: Anthony Ippolito Channels Sylvester Stallone in Peter Farrelly’s Cleverly Crafted Crowd-Pleaser About the Making of ‘Rocky’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/i-play-rocky-review-anthony-ippolito-channels-sylvester-stallone-in",
        "published": "2026-09-13T03:25:45.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}