Anthony Ippolito Explains Why Audiences Still Root for Rocky’s Underdog Story

Anthony Ippolito says the enduring appeal of Rocky comes down to the familiar pull of an underdog story. The actor, who plays Sylvester Stallone in the new biopic I Play Rocky, discussed the film alongside co-star Stephan James, reflecting on why audiences continue to cheer for people fighting against the odds. The biopic looks back at how Stallone wrote the screenplay for Rocky and pushed to play its lead role, rather than simply handing the script over and stepping aside. The story follows his determination to bring the project to life, even when his path to becoming its star was far from guaranteed. Ippolito and James said they believe that struggle is part of what makes the story resonate. Rocky is more than a boxing tale in their view: it is a portrait of someone trying to prove himself and refusing to give up when the outcome remains uncertain. The actors’ comments offer a glimpse of the perspective guiding the new film. Instead of focusing only on the famous matches and the character’s rise, I Play Rocky turns attention to the effort behind the original movie and the person who fought to make it happen. With the real-life account at its centre, the film revisits a familiar piece of movie history through the determination that helped create it. For Ippolito and James, that persistence explains why audiences still find themselves on Rocky’s side.