{"id":2107350,"date":"2025-10-22T03:15:11","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T03:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2107350"},"modified":"2025-10-22T03:15:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T03:15:11","slug":"i-play-rocky-movie-about-young-sylvester-stallone-films-in-n-j-with-oscar-nominated-actor-stallone-keep-punching","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/i-play-rocky-movie-about-young-sylvester-stallone-films-in-n-j-with-oscar-nominated-actor-stallone-keep-punching\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I Play Rocky\u2019 movie about young Sylvester Stallone films in N.J. with Oscar-nominated actor. Stallone: \u2018Keep punching!!!\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Young Sylvester Stallone<\/a> continues his tour of New Jersey<\/a> this week with more of the cast of the upcoming film \u201cI Play Rocky<\/a>.\u201d <\/p>\n

The Amazon MGM Studios movie, about Stallone\u2019s journey to star in \u201cRocky,\u201d<\/a> started filming in Jersey Oct. 15. <\/p>\n

Anthony Ippolito<\/a>, who stars as young Stallone, filmed outside the Ritz Theatre in Elizabeth Tuesday with the dog playing Butkus<\/a>, Stallone\u2019s bullmastiff, who was Rocky Balboa<\/a>\u2019s dog in \u201cRocky<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joining them were Oscar-winning filmmaker Peter Farrelly<\/a> (\u201cGreen Book\u201d); AnnaSophia Robb<\/a>, who plays Stallone\u2019s first wife, Sasha Czack; and Oscar nominee Matt Dillon<\/a>, who plays Stallone\u2019s father, Frank Stallone Sr.<\/a> <\/p>\n

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AnnaSophia Robb plays Stallone’s first wife, Ashley Czack. Bobby Bank | GC Images; Jose Perez | Bauer-Griffin | GC Images<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

The movie on the theater\u2019s marquee was the 1973 Robert Altman film \u201cThe Long Goodbye<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI Play Rocky<\/a>\u201d is set in the late \u201960s through 1976. Ippolito sported a leather jacket and bell bottoms.<\/p>\n

The movie, written by Peter Gamble<\/a> (\u201cOffice Uprising\u201d), is about Stallone\u2019s fight to take the lead role in \u201cRocky<\/a>\u201d in the face of pressure to cast other actors in the film he wrote. The once-struggling actor and writer bet on himself and it paid off big time. <\/p>\n

READ MORE: <\/b>See new \u2018I Play Rocky\u2019 movie about Sylvester Stallone filming in N.J. with Oscar-winning director Peter Farrelly<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cRocky<\/a>\u201d (1976), directed by John Avildsen<\/a>, won the Oscar for best picture, director and film editing, grossing $225 million worldwide and starting a long-running movie franchise.<\/p>\n

While the real Stallone previously said he has no involvement<\/a> in \u201cI Play Rocky,\u201d he\u2019s been rooting on the production from social media. <\/p>\n

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Ippolito as young Sylvester Stallone with the dog playing Stallone’s on- and off-screen companion, Butkus.Bobby Bank | GC Images<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\u201cThe movie \u2018I play Rocky\u2019 started filming Friday\u2026 Good luck to them – keep punching!!!” he said on Instagram (see post below), deploying two boxing glove emojis and sharing a photo of himself with the real Butkus on the beach. <\/p>\n

Last week, Ippolito, 26, who previously played Al Pacino<\/a> in the Paramount+ series \u201cThe Offer<\/a>,\u201d about the making of \u201cThe Godfather,\u201d filmed with the dog playing Butkus<\/a> in Keansburg<\/a>. <\/p>\n

READ MORE: <\/b>\u2018I Play Rocky\u2019 movie about Sylvester Stallone gets full cast in N.J. \u2014 see latest call for extras<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Stallone, 79, will also be telling his own story in \u201cThe Steps<\/a>,\u201c his memoir set to be published in May.<\/p>\n

Stephan James<\/a> (\u201cIf Beale Street Could Talk,\u201d \u201cHomecoming\u201d) will appear in \u201cI Play Rocky\u201d as Carl Weathers<\/a>, who played Apollo Creed<\/a> in \u201cRocky.\u201d <\/p>\n

The production has put out several calls<\/a> for local New Jersey extras<\/a>. <\/p>\n

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Director Peter Farrelly filmed at Elizabeth’s Ritz Theatre.Bobby Bank | GC Images<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
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