Here's some exciting news for die-hard Rocky Balboa enthusiasts! The legendary boxing icon is (in a manner of speaking) poised to make a comeback to our movie theaters. Amazon MGM has teased us with a sneak peek at the talented Anthony Ippolito, star of “The Offer,” admirably reenacting a young Sylvester Stallone in the eagerly anticipated “I Play Rocky.” This isn't just a biopic, it's a touching narrative about the topsy-turvy birth of the triumphant 1976 sports-drama “Rocky.”

Let's paint you a picture-we're taking a deep dive behind the scenes into how Sylvester Stallone stayed the course to play Rocky Balboa. The movie encapsulates Stallone's gritty determination: he was destined not merely to pen Rocky's story, but also to step into the shoes of the powerhouse character himself.

Our story begins with a 29-year-old Stallone, a then-unsung actor grappling with partial facial paralysis and a speech obstacle. Not only did he write the screenplay of “Rocky,” but he also stubbornly refused to part with the rights unless he got to portray the lead character. He shunned fat paychecks and brought the movie to life on a shoestring budget of under $1 million. Mirroring an underdog tale, “Rocky” soared to unparalleled success, becoming the year's top-grossing film and reigning the Oscars by bagging the award for the best picture. The cinematic triumph not only etched its place in Hollywood's annals but also paved the way for several sequels and the spinoff series “Creed.”

“I Play Rocky” is being sculpted under the masterful direction of “Green Book” filmmaker, Peter Farrelly. The cast consists of a stellar lineup of actors. Besides Ippolito, you'll see Stephan James essaying the role of Carl Weathers (Rocky's formidable opponent Apollo Creed), and an array of other talents like AnnaSophia Robb, Matt Dillon, P.J. Byrne, Tracy Letts and Jay Duplass.

Peter Farrelly, former Warner Bros. Chief, Toby Emmerich, and Christian Baha are donning the hats of producers. Talented scribe Peter Gamble of “Office Uprising” is responsible for the screenplay. During its announcement in 2024, Baha likened the narrative of “I Play Rocky” to Stallone's distinctive journey-an ordinary man graced with an extraordinary talent who refuses to bow down to obstacles and insists on bringing his gift to the world stage. An exciting true tale unfolding soon, so keep an eye out for more updates!