# Making ‘I Play Rocky’ Felt Like A Throwback To 1976 For The Creators – Contenders L.A.

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/making-i-play-rocky-felt-like-a-throwback-to-1976-for-the-creators-contenders-l-a/
- Published: 2026-11-14T20:32:11+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-14T23:04:52+00:00
- Original publisher: Deadline
- Original article: https://deadline.com/2026/11/i-play-rocky-anthony-ippolito-interview-1237223964/
- Topics: Celebrity, Culture, Entertainment, Research, Science, Travel

## Key points

- The creators aimed to capture the making of *Rocky* in 1976.
- *I Play Rocky* took a year and a half to get made.
- Gamble drew inspiration from Stallone’s rapid screenplay writing.

## Summary

The creators of *I Play Rocky* said making the film meant recreating the spirit of 1976, when Sylvester Stallone fought to get *Rocky* made. Actor Anthony Ippolito researched Stallone’s experience, trained in boxing and later spoke with him directly, while director Peter Farrelly described the production as a difficult, repeatedly threatened undertaking.

Farrelly said the film took a year and a half to get made and fell apart three times; a reduced budget meant it was shot in 34 days, compared with 28 days for the original *Rocky*. Writer Peter Gamble said Stallone’s reported three-day screenplay sprint inspired him to draft *I Play Rocky* quickly, changing his approach to writing and revision.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.