The story behind one of cinema’s most beloved sports dramas ever made is getting its own underdog movie, and the latest heavyweight knock-out has just arrived. Stephan James (If Beale Street Could Talk, Homecoming) has signed on to star as Carl Weathers, who, of course, played the fan-favorite character of Apollo Creed in the first four Rocky movies, in I Play Rocky. Amazon MGM Studios’ upcoming film will be directed by Oscar-winning Peter Farrelly. James will star opposite Anthony Ippolito, who plays a young Sylvester Stallone, as reported by Deadline.
The project, penned by Peter Gamble, chronicles Stallone’s uphill battle to get Rocky made on his own terms. After writing the script, Stallone refused to sell it unless he could also play the lead role, despite being an unknown actor at the time. What followed was one of Hollywood’s great long-shot gambles — a true behind-the-scenes underdog tale that mirrors the film’s story of Rocky Balboa himself. In I Play Rocky, James portrays Weathers, the former professional football player who transitioned into acting and ultimately landed the role of Apollo Creed. Weathers’ performance as the electrifying heavyweight champion turned rival and friend defined much of the Rocky saga, with Apollo appearing across four films before the character’s death in Rocky IV, for which we have yet to forgive Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren). Decades later, the character’s legacy lived on through Michael B. Jordan’s portrayal of Apollo’s son in the Creed trilogy.
Presumably, James was cast in a more traditional way than his on-screen counterpart. According to reports, Ippolito sent an audition tape to the film’s producers without their knowledge, and the tape impressed them enough that Ippolito landed the top role in the film, which Amazon is targeting for a theatrical release. Farrelly, who won a Best Picture Oscar for Green Book, will direct. The film is produced by Toby Emmerich and Christian Baha, with FilmNation Entertainment handling international sales. The movie is framed as both a Hollywood survival story and an inspirational drama about belief, perseverance, and legacy.
How Successful Was Rocky?
Released in 1976, John G. Avildsen’s Rocky became a cultural phenomenon and went on to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards. The series grew into one of the most successful sports franchises of all time, grossing over $1.7 billion globally across the original films and the Creed spin-offs. Beyond box office numbers, the franchise elevated Stallone into superstardom and gave audiences one of cinema’s most iconic rivalries-turned-friendships in Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed.
via Collider