'I Play Rocky' revealed as London Film Festival surprise film
The secret held until showtime. The London Film Festival revealed its surprise film on Friday night as “I Play Rocky,” Peter Farrelly’s drama based on real life about the making of Sylvester Stallone’s “Rocky” films, Variety reported.
Farrelly was in the room for the reveal. He introduced the screening in person, keeping with the festival’s tradition of holding back one title until the lights go down.
Anthony Ippolito stars as the young Stallone, the struggling actor trying to get “Rocky” made. AnnSophia Robb plays Sasha Czack, Stallone’s then-wife, and Matt Dillon plays his father, Frank Stallone Sr. The filmmaking team behind the original film is played by P.J. Byrne as producer Irwin Winkler and Jay Duplass as director John G. Avildsen.
Farrelly told the London audience how Ippolito got the part. The actor sent a self-tape of three scenes filmed in his grandmother’s basement on Long Island. That tape won him the lead.
The London date continues a busy festival run. “I Play Rocky” premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, where it was in contention for the People’s Choice Award, the audience-voted prize. It was also the secret patron screening at Telluride, Variety reported.
Its European premiere came at the Zurich Film Festival, Deadline reported. Since then it has picked up an Audience Award in the Special Presentations section at the Vancouver International Film Festival, known as VIFF, Variety reported.
The real Stallone has seen the film about his younger self. Farrelly said so in September, Entertainment Weekly reported.
Cinema-goers will not have to wait long. “I Play Rocky,” an Amazon MGM Studios film, is set for release in U.S. and U.K. theatres on Nov. 6. The London surprise gave local audiences one of the first looks before that rollout.
