Filmmaker Peter Farrelly (“Green Book”) is attached to direct “I Play Rocky,” written by Peter Gamble (“Office Uprising”). The film is inspired by the true story of Sylvester Stallone making the 1976 boxing film “Rocky.” Made on a shoestring budget, the film went on to be a cultural phenomenon garnering 10 Academy Award nominations, winning Best Picture.
“I Play Rocky“
“I Play Rocky,” “follows a struggling actor with a partially paralyzed face and a speech impediment who writes a script that a big movie studio wants to buy, but he refuses to sell it unless he gets to play the lead,” the logline reads. “Turning down an offer of life-changing money, he instead works for pennies to get the movie made with himself in the starring role.”
Stallone is never mentioned by name in the logline, and possibly the film, but the basis is clearly “Rocky.” We don’t know why this choice was made about the synopsis, but avoiding direct references to Stallone may allow some lean way for the lead’s physique. Since casting for “I Play Rocky,” is already underway.
CAA is presenting the film to buyers domestically at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival market. FilmNation Entertainment will be handling the project internationally. Farrelly will direct as well as produce alongside former Warner Bros. film chief Toby Emmerich and Christian Baha.
Producer’s Thoughts
“When I first read Peter Gamble’s energetic and poignant script, I knew it captured something very special,” Baha said in a statement. “The story of ‘I Play Rocky’ is as unique as Sylvester Stallone himself, a seeming Everyman with an undeniable gift who needs to share it with the world and refuses to take ‘no’ for an answer. And like the hero of our film, Baha Productions needed grit and determination as we fought for years to make this project into a reality. We are so fortunate to have teamed up with Toby Emmerich and Peter Farrelly, two legendary talents who not only share but enhance our vision of the film.”
“I’ve been a fan of Peter Farrelly as both a filmmaker and a person since getting to work with him on the music for ‘Dumb and Dumber,’” Emmerich adds “But it was ‘Green Book’ that made me think of Pete for this inspiring screenplay. Christian Baha and I feel blessed to have Pete at the helm for this movie. And like the unknown Stallone starring in ‘Rocky,’ Pete will be conducting a worldwide search to discover another actor who just needs one shot — in ‘I Play Rocky’ — to show the world what he can do.”
Stallone Approved?
Recently Stallone has taken issue with a potential “Creed” spinoff film based on the villain Drago from “Rocky IV.” He claimed the project was developed behind his back. There is also the long-running dispute over who owns the rights to “Rocky” between him and producer Irwin Winkler. So it’s anyone’s guess as to whether he will endorse this project or not. This also may be another reason he isn’t directly referenced in the synopsis.
We’ll keep you posted on updates about “I Play Rocky” as they become available. “Rocky” is currently streaming exclusively through AMC+.
