Peter Farrelly's new film "I Play Rocky", about the origins of Sylvester Stallone's 1976 boxing classic Rocky, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival to a divided critical response but an enthusiastic audience reaction, including mid-film applause and a lengthy standing ovation. The Hollywood Reporter suggests the film could echo the awards trajectory of both Rocky itself, which won the best picture Oscar in 1977, and Farrelly's earlier TIFF hit "Green Book", which also won best picture after a similarly polarised but crowd-pleasing debut.

The film stars 27-year-old Anthony Ippolito as Stallone, in a performance being tipped for a best actor Oscar nomination, alongside AnnaSophia Robb, Tracy Letts and Jay Duplass. Amazon/MGM plans a US release from 6 November, though the article notes Stallone himself, who is not financially involved in the project despite reportedly viewing and approving the finished cut, could make or break its awards prospects depending on whether he publicly endorses or criticises it, given his past disputes with original Rocky producer Irwin Winkler over profit shares.