Rob Demery has joined the cast of Amazon MGM Studios’ I Play Rocky, stepping into the shoes of legendary heavyweight champion Joe Frazier.
The film, directed by Peter Farrelly, tells the behind-the-scenes story of how Rocky came to life — and the unknown actor who refused to let go of his dream unless he could star in it: Sylvester Stallone.
Demery joins Anthony Ippolito, who stars as a young Stallone, along with Erik Palladino (Godfather of Harlem), who will portray Stallone’s boxing coach Pete. They round out a stacked ensemble that includes AnnaSophia Robb, P.J. Byrne, Toby Kebbell, Tracy Letts, Jay Duplass, Matt Dillon, Stephan James, Kiki Seto, Robert Morgan, Saul Stein, and Trevor St. John.
Currently in production, I Play Rocky follows Stallone’s now-iconic underdog journey — from being told “no” at every turn to betting it all on himself to write and star in Rocky, a film that went on to become one of Hollywood’s most enduring classics.
The film is produced by Toby Emmerich, Christian Baha, and Farrelly, from a script by Peter Gamble. FilmNation Entertainment is handling production services and international sales.
Demery brings an impressive résumé to the role. The stage and screen actor was part of the Tony-winning Broadway revivals of A Soldier’s Play and Topdog/Underdog, and earned praise for portraying Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the Emmy-nominated Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia!. His screen credits also include FBI: Most Wanted, Law & Order: Organized Crime, 4400, Lovecraft Country, The Gifted, and the recent film Signing Day. He is represented by CESD and 22 Talent.
With a story rooted in grit, self-belief, and rising above odds — and now the addition of Joe Frazier’s legacy through Demery — I Play Rocky is shaping up to be a film as determined as the story it’s telling.