Sylvester Stallone says Anthony Ippolito might win an Oscar for playing him in I Play Rocky
Anthony Ippolito is not just playing Sylvester Stallone in I Play Rocky — according to Stallone himself, he’s becoming him. The Italian Stallion, speaking to sports analyst Pat McAfee during a recent interview, called the performance ‘uncanny’ and ‘astounding,’ saying he looked at Ippolito’s screen test and thought he was staring at a mirror.
'At first, I went in there feeling incredibly skeptical,' Stallone admitted. 'Usually, they make these movies after you’ve kicked the bucket.' But after seeing the work print of the film, his reaction shifted. 'When I saw his auto-tape, I thought I was looking at myself. I went to my daughters and said, “Is this as authentic as it looks?
Oh my God!”' He then asked if Ippolito really spoke the way he does on screen, and his daughters confirmed it: 'Unfortunately, yeah.' That moment sealed it for Stallone. He didn’t want the film to feel like a vanity project or a quick cash grab, so he stayed entirely out of production.
The writing team did not read his book, and what’s on screen is completely original. Still, after screening the film, Stallone said, 'Damn! This is literally history repeating itself, almost on the same date, fifty-plus years ago in November. It’s so surreal.' He paused, then added: 'I think this kid’s going all the way.
I think he might be walking down the aisle on this one. He might be grabbing the trophy because this is not him, he’s a very different character than I am, so this was a real portrayal that he built from the ground up.' When pressed directly if he liked the movie, Stallone laughed and gave the camera an enthusiastic thumbs up.
The film, directed by Peter Farrelly, opens in theatres on November 20, 2026. It’s already drawing early buzz for awards season. What makes the moment more striking is that Ippolito has no prior feature film credits. His only acting experience before this came from a short film.
That’s what makes Stallone’s endorsement so electric, not just praise, but certification. A legend declaring a newcomer capable of carrying the weight of his legacy. The trailer dropped last month, showing the same grit, the same slow-burn intensity as the original Rocky. But this isn’t about the fight.
It’s about the man behind the gloves. And if Stallone’s right, the real battle begins at the Oscars.
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