What does Sylvester Stallone think of the biopic about his life and Rocky?

Anthony Ippolito plays young Sylvester in I Play Rocky, the film that traces the birth of cinema’s most famous boxer. And the actor claims to have obtained the blessing of the main person concerned…

Bringing Sylvester Stallone back to life on screen is quite a challenge. Especially when it comes to recounting the birth of Rockythe film that changed his life and made him a Hollywood legend.

In I Play Rockyactor Anthony Ippolito (The Offer) in any case finds the characteristic voice and intonations of the young Stallone, but also this hunger to succeed which animated an actor in whom Hollywood did not yet believe.

To prepare for his role, Ippolito worked with an obsession almost as tenacious as Stallone’s to impose his script. He listened to all the available excerpts of the actor, going so far as to order an old, forgotten long-form entitled Rebelone of his first films (in 1973), and wait two months to receive it. He also read the very first version of the script for Rocky. But the most important thing was obviously to obtain the agreement of Stallone himself. Ippolito was able to chat with him before filming, and benefit from his direct testimony on the negotiations with the producers and behind the scenes of this decisive period. A way for Sly to give his blessing. “He told me what he had experienced in these offices with the producers, and how these power relations worked. Everything that was going on in the background of his life during these negotiations, and the price he paid for remaining true to his beliefs“, the actor tells Variety.

“Hearing him tell all this was a real privilege, because it was something I had been thinking about a lot for over a year before speaking to him.“

So what does Stallone think of the result?

He has already seen the film, and his reaction visibly reassured his interpreter.

“He saw the film and had a very positive reaction. Fortunately, I was able to talk to him. When you’re making a biopic about a musician or a political figure, the fact that that person is looking at your interpretation from a technical point of view is a little different. But that’s his job. He’s an actor, so he watches me do what he does himself…”

Ippolito admits he was particularly nervous about showing him the film:

“I was already stressed out in general, because seeing a cinematic depiction of the pivotal moment in one’s life must be a pretty crazy experience. So I was hoping it would have a positive reaction, and it did. He told me that he really loved the film and couldn’t wait for more people to experience it.“

Enough to approach the exit with a little more serenity.

I Play Rocky is expected in American theaters in November and December 23, 2026 in France.