Stephan James Steps Into the Ring as Carl Weathers in ‘I Play Rocky’

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I Play Rocky already has its Sylvester Stallone, and now it has its Carl Weathers.

In the true story drama, which chronicles how the iconic 1976 film was made, Stephan James will play Carl Weathers, joining the previously announced Anthony Ippolito as Sylvester Stallone.

James is best known for his role in Barry Jenkins’ If Beale Street Could Talk and earned a Golden Globe nomination for Prime Video’s Homecoming. He also stars opposite Alan Ritchson in Netflix’s upcoming sci-fi actioner War Machine, and his profile is set to rise even further with this role.

The news, posted by Deadline on October 2, comes as more details about the film emerge. I Play Rocky will have a theatrical release, meaning Amazon MGM Studios is pouring plenty of money into it. Academy Award-winning Green Book director Peter Farrelly helms the film, with writing by Peter Gamble (House of Sand and Fog).

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According to the outlet, “I Play Rocky tells the true story of an unknown actor with an unshakable belief that he wasn’t just meant to write Rocky — he was meant to be Rocky Balboa. Told no at every turn, Stallone bets everything on himself, holding the line on playing the lead against seemingly impossible odds. The result is the ultimate underdog story behind the ultimate underdog movie.”

Actor Sylvester Stallone rose to glory with the boxing drama Rocky, which won the 1977 Best Picture Oscar. Carl Weathers, meanwhile, portrayed Stallone’s on-screen rival Apollo Creed, a role he reprised in three more films through 1985’s Rocky IV.

Michael B. Jordan plays Apollo’s son Adonis Creed in the spinoff films, which introduces the Rocky universe to a whole new generation of viewers. Taken as a whole, the entire Rocky franchise has earned a reported $1.7 billion, making it one of the most financially successful sports film series ever.