Director Peter Farrelly's "I Play Rocky", written by Peter Gamble, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday to enthusiastic applause and immediate awards momentum. The biopic follows Sylvester Stallone's journey to conceive, write, and secure his starring role in the original 1976 boxing film "Rocky", which won three Academy Awards. Early reception has positioned the film as a strong contender for TIFF's People's Choice Award.

Anthony Ippolito delivers the central performance as young Stallone, earning critical praise for capturing both the actor's distinctive appearance and voice with remarkable accuracy. Ippolito prepared for the role by meeting with Stallone himself, an experience he described as "very overwhelming and daunting". Critics have commended the film as a nostalgic crowd-pleaser that effectively dramatises the troubled path behind one of cinema's most iconic productions.