Amazon MGM Studios’ upcoming feature I Play Rocky has added Stephan James to its cast. The Golden Globe–nominated actor will portray Carl Weathers, who famously played Apollo Creed in the Rocky franchise.
The film, directed by Academy Award winner Peter Farrelly (Green Book), explores the making of Sylvester Stallone’s 1976 underdog classic Rocky, which went on to win Best Picture at the Oscars. Anthony Ippolito, who recently portrayed Al Pacino in Paramount+’s The Offer, will star as Stallone.
Written by Peter Gamble, the drama tells the true story of Stallone’s relentless fight to not only write Rocky, but also star in it—despite being told “no” at every turn. It’s the underdog story behind one of cinema’s greatest underdog tales.
A former professional football player turned actor, Carl Weathers brought Apollo Creed to life in Rocky (1976) and reprised the role through Rocky IV (1985). His character’s legacy has continued through Michael B. Jordan’s portrayal of Creed’s son, Adonis, in MGM’s Creed trilogy.
For James, this role marks another entry in a career filled with acclaimed performances. He previously played civil rights icon John Lewis in Ava DuVernay’s Selma (2014), Jesse Owens in Race (2016), and starred in Barry Jenkins’ If Beale Street Could Talk (2018). His turn in the Prime Video series Homecoming earned him a Golden Globe nomination. Most recently, he headlined the indie drama Ricky, which premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, and he will soon appear in Netflix’s upcoming sci-fi actioner War Machine.
The Rocky franchise remains one of Hollywood’s most enduring cultural touchstones, grossing more than $1.7 billion across its original films and spin-offs. I Play Rocky aims to capture the spirit of determination and grit that brought Stallone’s dream to life.
No release date has been announced yet.
