AceShowbiz - The director of the upcoming biopic I Play Rocky, Peter Farrelly, has publicly challenged claims made by Sylvester Stallone about his involvement in the film’s production. The movie, which chronicles the making of the iconic 1976 Rocky film, stars Anthony Ippolito as a young Stallone. Despite the biopic’s subject, Stallone previously stated in interviews that he had no participation in the project and was "blindsided" by its announcement, saying, "I have zero to do with it."

However, in a recent conversation with The Playlist regarding his movie Balls Up, Farrelly refuted Stallone’s statements. He revealed that one of the first steps in developing I Play Rocky was reaching out to Stallone and securing his approval of the script. The screenplay, written by Peter Gamble, was sent to Stallone, who gave the green light after reading it. Farrelly recounted meeting Stallone at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles, where the actor expressed his support for the project.

Farrelly speculated that Stallone might have forgotten about this approval or confused the situation with his work on his memoirs, which were being written concurrently with the film’s production. The director expressed confidence that Stallone will be pleased with the finished product, describing it as a "great story" where Stallone "comes across fantastically."

Here is Farrelly’s full comment on the matter:

"I've read this a couple of times, and that's not accurate. I don't know what that's about, but the first thing we did was reach out [to Sly]. First of all, that was another script that a guy named Peter Gamble wrote. And it came to me, and I was like, 'incredible script!' So they said, 'Do you wanna make it?' I said, 'If Sly's okay with it.' And so they sent it to Stallone. He read it. And then I met with him at the Beverly Hills Hotel in LA. I said, 'Hey, what do you think? I'm not gonna make it if you don't give me the thumbs up.' And he goes, 'Great. Do it.' So we did it. But I guess along the way, he must have forgotten. The only misunderstanding I can imagine is that he was working on his memoirs. And I guess he was working on it while we were making the movie. And once we were done, I heard that. And by the way, he's gonna be very, very happy because it's a great story and he comes across fantastically."

The remarks from Farrelly come shortly after footage from I Play Rocky was unveiled at CinemaCon, generating excitement among attendees. The clips feature Anthony Ippolito portraying the young Stallone, as well as Matt Dillon as Frank Stallone Sr., delivering a stern message to his son about the challenges of becoming a movie star. The footage highlights Stallone’s determination to bring his vision to the screen despite skepticism from executives and various production obstacles.

Critics and industry insiders at CinemaCon have praised Ippolito’s performance and noted a striking resemblance to Stallone, which has heightened anticipation for the biopic. The film is scheduled for a limited theatrical release on November 13, 2026, followed by a wide release on November 20, 2026. These dates closely align with the original Rocky’s release on November 21, 1976, marking the 50th anniversary of the franchise.

With the continued success of the Creed series and the positive buzz surrounding I Play Rocky, the biopic is expected to further elevate the Rocky franchise’s momentum. However, the public disagreement between Stallone and Farrelly over the actor’s involvement could potentially affect audience perception. Fans may be hesitant if the dispute overshadows the film, especially since Stallone’s participation in the project had been a point of contention.

The Rocky series is widely regarded as one of the greatest sports movie franchises of all time, and Stallone remains a significant figure in entertainment, with recent projects like Tulsa King maintaining his popularity. Given this context, I Play Rocky is positioned to attract broad interest and perform well at the box office, particularly as its wide release coincides with the Thanksgiving holiday week, a prime time for moviegoing.

Beyond Stallone and his father Frank Stallone Sr., the film features several other real-life figures connected to Stallone’s personal life and the original movie’s making. The cast includes Stephan James as Carl Weathers, AnnaSophia Robb as Stallone’s wife Sasha Czack, Kiki Seto as Talia Shire, Robert Morgan as Burgess Meredith, Scot Teller as Burt Young, Jay Duplass as director John G. Avildsen, P.J. Byrne and Toby Kebbell as producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff respectively, Erik Palladino as Stallone’s boxing coach Pete, and Rob Demery as Joe Frazier.

This ensemble aims to provide a comprehensive look at the people who shaped Stallone’s journey and the making of the legendary film that started it all. As the release date approaches, expectations continue to build for a compelling and authentic portrayal of the early days of Rocky.

In summary, the dispute between Sylvester Stallone and Peter Farrelly regarding Stallone’s involvement in I Play Rocky highlights differing perspectives on the film’s development. While Stallone claims no involvement, Farrelly insists Stallone’s approval was secured before filming began. The outcome of this disagreement remains to be seen, but the movie’s reception at CinemaCon and its carefully timed release suggest strong prospects for success within the celebrated franchise’s legacy.