‘Rocky’ Origin Story Flick
‘Gonna Fly Now’ …
Anthony Ippolito Races Up Stairs For New Film
Published November 20, 2025 7:10 AM PST
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Yo, Adrian … check out Anthony Ippolito‘s form while he runs like Sylvester Stallone in a new movie all about the making of “Rocky.”
The actor hit Sly’s old stompin’ grounds out in Philadelphia to shoot a pivotal scene for the biopic “I Play Rocky” Wednesday … with cameras capturing him running up the stairs now known as the “Rocky Steps” — named after the iconic character who ran up them in the OG movie — which lead up to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Check it out … Ippolito’s outfitted in an all-gray track suit and black beanie, just like Stallone wore in the first movie. He successfully makes it up the steps and bounces around in triumph — before collapsing at the end of the shot.
Several other actors — also dressed up like it’s the late ’70s — rush over to him … so, it’s clearly a scene for the film, though there doesn’t appear to be a record of Stallone injuring himself during this specific scene.
For further proof he didn’t really hurt himself, watch our clip all the way to the end … they even rehearsed him going down while clutching his calf.
Variety shared a first look at the movie last month … publishing a photo of Ippolito, dressed as Rocky Balboa, running along the sand with a big dog — a stand-in for Rocky’s pup, Butkus, who was actually Stallone’s real-life dog back in the day.
Filming’s set to take place in Philly, New York City and Los Angeles … with Stephan James, AnnaSophia Robb, Matt Dillon, Tracy Letts and more stars taking part in the action as well.
And, anyone worried about Ippolito playing an iconic actor can breathe a sigh of relief … after all, he previously starred as Al Pacino in “The Offer” — a series about the making of “The Godfather.”
