Sylvester Stallone Says “I’m Not Dead Yet” Before Admitting He Thought Anthony Ippolito Was Actually Him

Sylvester Stallone has given his first detailed reaction to I Play Rocky, the upcoming film about the making of the 1976 classic that transformed him into a Hollywood star.

While Stallone initially questioned whether it was too early for his life story to receive the biopic treatment, seeing Anthony Ippolito portray his younger self appears to have changed his perspective.

Speaking at 92NY on September 28 during a conversation promoting his memoir The Steps, Stallone discussed the film and his reaction to Ippolito's performance.

Stallone Thought the Biopic Was Coming Too Soon

Stallone admitted that his first reaction to I Play Rocky was complicated. The actor and filmmaker joked that he was still alive and questioned whether a movie about his life was being made prematurely.

“I’m not dead yet. Aren’t we jumping the gun a little bit?”

Stallone said, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

However, that reaction changed after Stallone saw footage of Anthony Ippolito, who plays a young version of him in the film.

Stallone said he

“actually thought it was me the first moment,”

adding that certain shots were particularly convincing. He even showed the footage to his daughter, describing the resemblance as “unbelievable.”

I Play Rocky focuses on the difficult production of the original Rocky, following Stallone's younger self as he attempts to get his screenplay produced while insisting on playing the lead role.

Anthony Ippolito Plays a Young Stallone

Ippolito, known for roles in The Offer and Grand Army, takes on the challenging role of portraying Stallone during one of the most important periods of his career.

Stallone made clear that he did not participate directly in making the biopic. Instead, he allowed director Peter Farrelly and the rest of the filmmaking team to tell the story independently.

“I’ll just sit back and watch,”

Stallone recalled saying.

He did, however, speak with Ippolito and offered to answer questions if the younger actor needed help understanding him.

Stallone's reaction also included a humorous moment of self-reflection. After watching Ippolito's performance, he reportedly found himself wondering about his own mannerisms, asking, “Do I talk like that?” He then joked that watching the portrayal helped him understand how he appeared to others.

Stallone Still Wants to Fix Rocky V

The conversation wasn't limited to I Play Rocky. Stallone also discussed his own complicated relationship with the Rocky franchise, particularly 1990's Rocky V.

The actor revealed that he is still attempting to convince Amazon to allow him to recut the film. Stallone has previously been critical of the sequel and described it as “a thorn in my side.”

He believes he should have directed the movie himself and been more involved in its creative decisions. Stallone acknowledged that a recut would not suddenly transform Rocky V into a classic, joking that the best outcome would be making it “acceptable.”

Stallone also reflected on why some older Hollywood movies cannot simply be recreated in the same way today. He pointed to films such as The Godfather, arguing that their impact was connected to the social climate, casting and cultural circumstances of the era in which they were made.

For I Play Rocky, that period is particularly important. The film revisits the circumstances surrounding the creation of Rocky and the unlikely rise of Stallone, who went from struggling actor and screenwriter to one of Hollywood's biggest stars.

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2026 and stars Ippolito as the young Stallone. Peter Farrelly directs the project.