‘I Play Rocky’ to hit theaters Thanksgiving 2026, ahead of ‘Rocky’ 50th Anniversary |
A prime holiday slot has been booked for the upcoming drama about the making of one of Hollywood’s most enduring films. Peter Farrelly’s ‘I Play Rocky’ is set to hit theaters right before Thanksgiving 2026, a date picked to line up neatly with 50 years of the original ‘Rocky’. The timing is deliberate. The film’s release coincides with a high-stakes holiday period when studios typically make their most significant investments.According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film will open nationwide on November 20, 2026, after a limited theatrical release on November 13. The original ‘Rocky’ premiered on November 21, 1976, making the timing deliberately symbolic.
‘I Play Rocky’ Thanksgiving 2026 release date and theatrical rollout
The Hollywood Reporter highlights that ‘I Play Rocky’ narrates the authentic, behind-the-scenes tale of Sylvester Stallone’s struggle to realize his vision on screen. Anthony Ippolito plays Stallone at the point when he was still a long shot, not a household name. The story tracks how he dug in on one non-negotiable: if ‘Rocky’ got made, he had to be the one in the ring. That stubborn risk changed everything that followed, for him and for the movie that became a classic.The report further noted that Stallone faced constant rejection, yet he persevered and took the lead despite seemingly insurmountable challenges. The project presents Stallone’s struggle as the quintessential underdog story that inspired the iconic underdog movie.
Peter Farrelly’s ‘I Play Rocky,’ cast details, and ‘Rocky’ 50th anniversary context
Peter Farrelly directs from a script written by Peter Gamble. Farrelly previously won an Academy Award for ‘Green Book’, and this marks a shift back into grounded, character-driven storytelling. The ensemble cast includes Matt Dillon, AnnaSophia Robb, P.J. Byrne, Toby Kebbell, Tracy Letts, Jay Duplass, Stephan James, Kiki Seto, Robert Morgan, Saul Stein, Trevor St. John, Erik Palladino, and Rob Demery.‘I Play Rocky’ also continues Ippolito’s run, portraying legendary Italian-American actors. He previously played Al Pacino in the Paramount limited series ‘The Offer.’Producers on the film include Toby Emmerich, Christian Baha, and Peter Farrelly, with FilmNation Entertainment overseeing production services and international sales.The original ‘Rocky’ launched a long-running MGM franchise that later expanded with the ‘Creed’ films. The later films gave the franchise a second life and turned the spotlight onto Michael B. Jordan, while also cementing Ryan Coogler as a major director. Now ‘I Play Rocky’, set for Thanksgiving 2026, circles back to the beginning, using that anniversary timing to salute what the series became and to retell the scrappy origin story behind it.
