Anthony Ippolito will be headlining Peter Farrelly’s movie about the making of Sylvester Stallone‘s Rocky (according to The Hollywood Reporter), one of the most revered movies from the 1970s. I Play Rocky will chronicle the true story of Stallone’s rise to stardom amid his struggles prior to Rocky, a movie that not only changed the course of his career but also embedded itself as a cultural landmark in the realm of sports movies.
Ippolito, who previously played Al Pacino in The Offer, will play a young Stallone in the movie, which is being described as the ultimate underdog story behind the most ultimate underdog movie.
Moreover, the Purple Hearts star, who certainly resembles Stallone, was apparently relentless in his pursuit of this gig, which he reportedly landed on his own merit after sending an unsolicited audition tape on his own to the producers.
Anthony Ippolito Is No Stranger to the Weight of Playing Legends Onscreen
As mentioned before, Ippolito previously played Al Pacino in the Paramount+ series, The Offer. Similar to the movie in question, featuring the making of Rocky, The Offer followed the story of the creation of Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather, one of the most iconic pieces in cinema history.
Although the story was mainly told from the eyes of producer Albert S. Ruddy, played by Miles Teller, Ippolito did an impressive job of reenacting Pacino’s mannerisms. And given the stature of both the Oscar-winning actor and Coppola’s magnum opus, Ippolito confessed to feeling the weight of the role, which at times made him want to throw up (Variety).
However, as the story goes, he didn’t fold to the pressure. Instead, he enjoyed his stint as Pacino, deeming the role one of the coolest things he has ever done.
It’s pretty terrifying, it makes you want to throw up. But it’s also a freaking honor, and it’s one of the coolest things that I’ve done as an actor. And it made me feel a huge weight of responsibility, but I had so much fun.
It’s safe to say playing Stallone in his next movie will certainly make the list for one of his coolest moments. With Amazon MGM Studios set to produce, the movie is currently being eyed for a theatrical release.
Considering Stallone’s involvement in Rocky remains paramount, as it stemmed from his own hardships, in contrast to The Offer, Ippolito will likely amass much of the spotlight here. Hopefully, he’ll do the Italian American actor justice, just as he did Pacino.
What are your thoughts on Ippolito’s casting as Stallone? Comment below!
The Offer is available to stream on Paramount+ (USA).
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