Actor wins Stallone role with unsolicited audition tape

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 4 Nov, 11:44 · Archive

Anthony Ippolito landed the lead in 'I Play Rocky' by sending an unsolicited audition tape to director Peter Farrelly.

Anthony Ippolito, 27, saw an opportunity when he learned that Oscar-winning director Peter Farrelly was developing a film about Sylvester Stallone's determination to write and star in the original 'Rocky'. The problem was that Ippolito had not been asked to audition for 'I Play Rocky'.

Instead of waiting for an invitation, Ippolito created audition material on his own and sent it to Farrelly unsolicited. 'I kind of just took it upon myself to make some stuff on my own and kind of send it to them unsolicited,' Ippolito said. 'I was just hoping somebody would see it.'

Farrelly did see it and was convinced immediately. 'He sent his tape, you know, cold, and we're like, that's the guy,' the director recalled. 'We were going to do a worldwide search, we never did it.' Farrelly was particularly impressed by Ippolito's ability to portray Stallone as a person rather than performing a caricature of the actor or his famous Rocky character. 'This guy came fully formed — he was exactly what I was looking for because he didn't do a caricature of Stallone or Rocky and he knew the difference.'

The film had a limited release on Friday.

Actor wins Stallone role with unsolicited audition tape — Image: News4Jax

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How it is being reported

How Anthony Ippolito talked his way into playing Sylvester Stallone in 'I Play Rocky'Anthony Ippolito took a bold step to land the starring role in “I Play Rocky.”.News4Jax · 4 Nov, 11:05
How Anthony Ippolito talked his way into playing Sylvester Stallone in 'I Play Rocky'Anthony Ippolito took a bold step to land the starring role in “I Play Rocky.”.Clickorlando · 4 Nov, 11:05

In this story: Anthony Ippolito · Peter Farrelly · Sylvester Stallone · Amazon MGM Studios

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