'I'm Not Dead Yet': Sylvester Stallone Reacts to 'I Play Rocky' Biopic
Sylvester Stallone shares his mixed feelings on the 'I Play Rocky' biopic, joking that he isn't dead yet but praising the lead actor's performance.
Hollywood legend Sylvester Stallone has broken his silence regarding the upcoming biopic I Play Rocky, which chronicles the intense journey of creating his 1976 masterpiece. While the actor initially felt the project might be premature, he has since found himself surprisingly impressed by the portrayal of his younger self.
"Aren't We Jumping the Gun?"
Speaking at an event at 92NY while promoting his new memoir, The Steps, Stallone admitted to having complicated feelings about a film centered on his own life story. His primary concern was the timing of such a deep dive into his past.
"I'm kind of mixed about the project because, as I put it, 'I'm not dead yet. Aren't we jumping the gun a little bit?'" Stallone remarked, questioning the necessity of revisiting his history so soon.
The film, which recently premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, follows the tumultuous production of Rocky. It features Anthony Ippolito stepping into the role of a young Stallone, capturing the grit and determination required to bring the underdog story to the big screen.
A Surprising Connection to the Performance
Despite his initial skepticism, Stallone revealed that his perspective shifted once he witnessed the acting. He was so struck by the resemblance that he momentarily confused the screen character with his actual self.
- The Visual Impact: Stallone noted that certain camera angles made the performance incredibly convincing, prompting him to tell his daughter, "That's unbelievable."
- Hands-Off Approach: The legendary actor clarified that he had no official involvement in the production, which was directed by Peter Farrelly.
- The Mannerisms: Stallone joked about seeing his own unique speech patterns and gestures recreated on screen, admitting, "I go, 'Do I talk like that?' Now I get it."
While he offered to answer any questions the cast might have, he maintained a respectful distance, stating, "I'll just sit back and watch. They did it all on their own."
Regrets and the 'Thorn in My Side'
The conversation also turned toward the legacy of the Rocky franchise. Stallone expressed a sense of bittersweetness when looking back at his iconic filmography, comparing it to looking at an old photograph that everyone else loves, even if you feel differently about it.
Most notably, he addressed his dissatisfaction with Rocky V, a film he described as a "thorn in my side."
"It bothers me to death because I know I took my foot off the gas," he confessed. Stallone believes he should have taken the director's chair for that installment and warned against the temptation to simply "try to be cool to the audience." He even revealed a desire to work with Amazon to recut the film, though he jokingly added that the result would merely be "acceptable" rather than great.
A Changing Hollywood Landscape
When asked if he could reach the same heights of stardom if he were starting his career in today's climate, Stallone was skeptical. He pointed toward a fundamental shift in the industry's ideology and mindset.
He further argued that the magic of classic cinema often stems from a specific cultural moment that cannot be replicated. Using The Godfather as an example, he noted that casting such a film today would be nearly impossible because the original's uniqueness was tied to the social and cultural circumstances of its era.