Anthony Ippolito, who already has experience playing iconic Italian American actors like Al Pacino in The Offer, is now taking on another legendary star.
This time, he’ll play a young Sylvester Stallone in I Play Rocky, Amazon MGM’s upcoming drama about the making of the 1976 boxing classic Rocky. And fans can’t stop talking about the casting — because the resemblance is nearly uncanny.
The project, which will be directed by Academy Award-winner Peter Farrelly (Green Book), tells the true story behind how Rocky came to be, and how a then-unknown Stallone fought to not just write the film but star in it.
Facing constant rejection, Stallone famously refused to sell the script unless he could play the lead, betting on himself in a move that would ultimately launch one of Hollywood’s most iconic careers.
The new film will focus on this pivotal moment, revealing the grit behind the underdog story that became a cultural phenomenon.
Ippolito reportedly earned the part by submitting an unsolicited audition tape, according to Entertainment Weekly. “That bold move ultimately led to him landing the role — mirroring the very tenacity I Play Rocky celebrates,” Amazon MGM says.
Fans immediately responded online to the resemblance, with one comment reading, “Damn looks exactly like him,” and another noting, “It’s crazy how they keep finding actors that look so much like who they’re portraying!”
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The original Rocky, which Stallone wrote and starred in, was a box office hit and eventually won Best Picture at the 1977 Academy Awards. Made on a modest budget, the film launched a franchise that has grossed over $1.7 billion worldwide — including the Creed spin-offs starring Michael B. Jordan.
Rocky remains a touchstone of American cinema and one of the most beloved sports movies of all time. The story of its creation, and Stallone’s now-legendary persistence, has become just as inspiring as the movie itself.
Ippolito seems uniquely suited for the role, not just because of his physical likeness to Stallone, but because of his previous work bringing real-life Hollywood icons to the screen.
In The Offer, he portrayed a young Al Pacino during the chaotic making of The Godfather, another 1970s classic. Now, he’s stepping into another era-defining role, one that could mark a major milestone in his own rising career.
