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‘I Play Rocky’ Stars Reveal the Faith Behind the Dream

‘I Play Rocky’ Stars Reveal the Faith Behind the Dream

Last updated on: November 4, 2026 at 11:10 pm by DeWayne Hamby

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‘I Play Rocky’ Stars Reveal the Faith Behind the Dream 2026-11-04T23:10:51-04:00 DeWayne Hamby

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Anthony Ippolito and AnnaSophia Robb, who star in the new film “I Play Rocky” recently spoke on how Sylvester Stallone’s remarkable journey to make “Rocky” offers a powerful reminder to never give up on your dreams.

1794765 – “I Play Rocky” – (L to R) Toby Kebbell as Robert Chartoff, AnnaSophia Robb as Sasha Czack, P.J. Byrne as Irwin Winkler, Anthony Ippolito as Sylvester Stallone, and Jay Duplass as John Avildsen in I PLAY ROCKY, from Amazon MGM Studios. Photo Credit: Claire Folger © 2026 Amazon Content Services LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Before “Rocky” became one of the most beloved movies in Hollywood history, Sylvester Stallone was an aspiring actor with a dream that few people believed in. He had a screenplay, a vision and an unwavering determination to bring his story to the big screen. What he didn’t have was the assurance that any of it would actually happen.

That journey is at the heart of the new film. The movie explores the struggles, sacrifices and extraordinary persistence that ultimately gave birth to one of cinema’s most inspirational underdog stories.

But beyond the familiar Hollywood success story, the film offers something deeper: a reminder that dreams often require a leap of faith, the courage to withstand rejection and the encouragement of someone who believes in us when we struggle to believe in ourselves.

For Ippolito, stepping into the shoes of the legendary actor presented a unique challenge. He was already familiar with portions of Stallone’s story, but the opportunity to portray the man behind the iconic character was something special.

“I’d known a little bit about Stallone’s story just growing up as an actor,” Ippolito said. “I’d heard some things, and I just knew there was something special there.”

His preparation eventually included a conversation with Stallone himself, approximately a month before filming began. Although Ippolito had already conducted extensive research, hearing directly from the man who lived the story provided invaluable insight.

“He was very open and generous in sharing so much of not just the struggle that he went through, the struggles that he endured leading up to making ‘Rocky’ and those negotiations, but also just from a writing perspective, what went into crafting ‘Rocky’ as a character,” Ippolito said.

While Stallone’s determination drives the story, “I Play Rocky” also shines a spotlight on someone whose contributions have received far less attention: Sasha.

Robb, whose previous credits include the inspirational faith-based film “Soul Surfer,” portrays a woman who believed in her husband’s dreams while pursuing her own creative interests.

“She’s an amazing woman, and I just felt so honored to be able to play this unsung hero, really, that not many people know about,” Robb said.

According to the actress, Sasha was far more than a supportive spouse. A photographer with her own artistic perspective to the film, she also played an important role in Stallone’s writing process.

“She was the one who wrote. She typed out all of ‘Rocky.’ She wrote all of Sylvester Stallone’s screenplays. He handwrote, and she typed them all. So, she was his first read,” Robb explained. “And I think without Sasha, there wouldn’t be a ‘Rocky.'”

For Robb, portraying Sasha reinforced an important truth about pursuing seemingly impossible dreams: Success rarely happens in isolation.

“I think behind every person who has the spotlight on them, there is somebody standing behind them who’s believed in them from the very beginning,” she said. “And I think this movie is a real testament to how many people it takes to make a dream come true.”

The themes of perseverance, hope and believing in something before it becomes reality carry an unmistakably inspirational message.

Robb described Sasha as a fearless dreamer whose willingness to embrace uncertainty helped shape the couple’s journey.

“I feel like she wanted to take a leap of faith, not just on him, but on what their life would be,” Robb said. “It’s like, why not? You know, what do you have to lose? You just give it a shot, take the jump.”

For people of faith, that sentiment may resonate with the biblical principle of walking by faith rather than sight. Sometimes the next step comes without any guarantee of success, requiring courage to move forward despite uncertainty.

Review: ‘I Play Rocky’ Captures Stallone’s Unbreakable Dream

Robb also discovered a lesson about appreciating the process rather than becoming consumed with the outcome.

“Focusing really on the journey rather than the destination is a really important lesson that I took away from her,” she said.

Interestingly, the actress found inspiration for Sasha’s character in her own marriage.

“I based a lot of this character on elements of my husband and how supportive and optimistic and steadfast he is,” Robb revealed.

She recalled believing that an initial audition had gone terribly. Her husband encouraged her when she returned home discouraged, reminding her of the importance of continuing to pursue her goals.

“Having that person in your corner, I think, to remind you of what your goals are and to not be afraid to try again and again and again is, I think, what makes a dream come true,” she said.

Ippolito, who disappeared into his role as Stallone, echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that the film’s message extends beyond personal ambition.

“I think you can’t really forget about how impactful it is to have somebody like Sasha in your corner and what that role means to people because you can’t really do all of this on your own,” he said.

His hope is that audiences will leave the theater not only inspired to pursue their own dreams but motivated to encourage others.

“Hopefully, people not only stick up for themselves the way Stallone did, but also look to other people who are doubting themselves and who are close with them, and try to encourage them as well,” Ippolito said.

“I Play Rocky,” directed by Peter Farrelly and starring Anthony Ippolito, AnnaSophia Robb, Toby Kebbell, P.J. Byrne, Jay Duplass, Matt Dillon, Stephan James, and Tracy Letts, releases Friday from Amazon MGM Studios.

General Christian

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