Entertainment · Film · 2 hrs ago
Anthony Ippolito Transformed to Play Sylvester Stallone in I Play Rocky
Anthony Ippolito plays Sylvester Stallone in I Play Rocky, directed by Peter Farrelly.
To prepare, he spent nearly two years bulking up from about 150 pounds to roughly 180 and training at a Brooklyn gym.
The film follows Stallone’s effort to get Rocky made in 1976, when Hollywood was not backing his idea.
Ippolito’s first scenes were with a dog playing Butkus, Stallone’s real-life pet.
The dog took a few days to warm to him, and Ippolito said patience and treats helped.
I Play Rocky opens in limited release on November 6 and is scheduled to go wide on November 20.
Anthony Ippolito gained about 30 pounds to play Sylvester Stallone in I Play Rocky.
He spent nearly two years bulking up from about 150 pounds to roughly 180.
The film, directed by Peter Farrelly, follows Stallone’s effort to get Rocky made in 1976.
Ippolito said the dog playing Stallone’s dog Butkus took a few days to warm to him during filming.
I Play Rocky is scheduled for limited release on Nov. 6 and wide release on Nov. 20.
- Who
- Anthony Ippolito plays Sylvester Stallone in I Play Rocky.
- What
- Ippolito transformed his physique for the role. The film follows Stallone’s journey to get Rocky made.
- When
- The film is scheduled for limited release on Nov. 6, followed by a wide release on Nov. 20.
- Where
- Ippolito discussed the film at its AFI Fest screening in Los Angeles.
- Why
- Ippolito changed his physique to play Stallone.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Ippolito bulked up from about 150 pounds to roughly 180 while training at Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn.
Ippolito first met the dog playing Butkus.
I Play Rocky screened at AFI Fest in Los Angeles.
I Play Rocky is scheduled for limited release.
I Play Rocky is scheduled to go wide.
- Actor
- Anthony Ippolito
- Role
- Sylvester Stallone
- Starting weight
- About 150 pounds
- Weight after bulking up
- Roughly 180 pounds
- Training gym
- Gleason’s Gym, Brooklyn
- Director
- Peter Farrelly
What people are saying
I had a great deal of time, so just an entire lifestyle shift and it was just one of the priorities of every day for a pretty long period.
He didn’t happen to take a liking to me until a couple of days in.
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Anthony Ippolito describes his first day filming "I Play Rocky": "Irwin Winkler was actually on set day one. We did a lot of stuff with Butkus that day, and I hadn't met that specific dog until the day prior to shooting, and he didn't happen to take a liking to me until a
Met and interviewed ‘I Play Rocky’ star Anthony Ippolito for the first time today. We talked about the muscles he put on to transform into Sylvester Stallone and acting opposite a dog playing Butkus. https://t.co/rd2mkN8lBD via @variety #justforvariety