Anthony Ippolito Premieres 'I Play Rocky' at Zurich Film Festival 2026 Amid Growing Oscars Buzz | Just Jared

September 25, 2026 September 25, 2026

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Anthony Ippolito at Zurich Film Festival — Credit: Getty

Anthony Ippolito is promoting his highly-anticipated new movie at the 2026 Zurich Film Festival!

The 27-year-old actor had his hand fist as he posed for photos on the red carpet at the premiere of I Play Rocky on Friday (September 25) held at Corso Green Carpet in Zurich, Switzerland.

Anthony plays a younger version of Sylvester Stallone in the movie, which follows the development and production of the 1976 Oscar-winning movie Rocky.

What is I Play Rocky about?

Here’s the synopsis:

The film is an electrifying true story about an unknown actor with an unshakable belief that he wasn’t just meant to write Rocky—he was meant to be Rocky Balboa. Told “no” at every turn, Sylvester Stallone bets everything on himself, holding the line on playing the lead against seemingly impossible odds. The result is the ultimate underdog story behind the ultimate underdog movie.

Who stars in the movie?

The cast also includes Matt Dillon, AnnaSophia Robb, P.J. Byrne, Toby Kebbell, Tracy Letts, Jay Duplass, Stephan James, and Kiki Seto.

The movie is already getting Oscars buzz

Critics have been going wild for I Play Rocky after its premiere at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month.

“Make no mistake: a star is born. Ippolito delivers the kind of breakout that turns a working actor into a name overnight, anchoring one of the truest underdog stories the business has ever told,” Variety wrote in their review.

USA Today noted, “The huge crowd response from the premiere audience is a good sign that I Play Rocky, like its namesake, could be an Oscar contender.”

Deadline raved that the movie “manages to carry the same emotional wallop as the original Rocky and containing a performance from Anthony Ippolito that is so uncanny I didn’t for a minute think he was anyone but the actual Stallone. It feels like they just used de-aging technology so Stallone could play himself a half-century younger. But make no mistake, Ippolito’s powerful, moving and inspiring portrayal is not mere imitation. This guy inhabits Stallone in every way, delivering an authentic portrait that will blow you away.”