Hollywood legend Sylvester Stallone has two big projects on the horizon, and both of which have the same Rocky-related problem to overcome. The Rocky films are not only some of Sylvester Stallone’s best movies, but the character of Rocky Balboa is one of the most iconic and beloved big-screen characters of all time. That popularity causes somewhat of a challenge for Stallone’s next two projects.

As well as working on several upcoming action movies, Stallone is set to develop a film and a TV show with very personal focuses. The first is a Stallone biopic titled I Play Rocky, which will center on the star’s time making the original Rocky movie, while the other is a Rocky prequel TV series. Both sound like incredibly interesting projects, yet both have the same impossible challenge on their hands.

Sylvester Stallone’s Biopic & Rocky Prequel Show Need Actors To Play A Young Stallone

Finding The Right Actors For The Job Won’t Be Easy

Owing to their nature, both I Play Rocky and the Rocky prequel series require actors who can play a young version of Stallone. However, casting a young Sylvester Stallone is far from an easy task. After all, the star is recognizable around the world, with his distinctive voice and mannerisms separating him from every other Hollywood actor. There’s a degree of difficulty when it comes to casting any younger version of a real-life person. The ideal candidate has to not only be able to believably imitate the person they are playing, but they also have to look like them too.

In the case of Stallone, this trick has to be pulled off twice. Of course, there is the option of casting the same person in both projects, but this presents its own problems. Firstly, if the movie and TV series enter production around the same time, such a thing would be physically impossible. Additionally, the two roles, while similar on the face of it, are not the same; one is a 30-year-old Stallone at the start of his filmmaking career, while the other is an inexperienced Rocky Balboa. They are two separate characters that require different skills to play them.

I Play Rocky’s Young Stallone Casting Is More Difficult Than A Rocky Prequel

Audiences Are Very Familiar With A Young Stallone

Of Stallone’s two upcoming Rocky-adjacent projects, I Play Rocky is the one that has the most challenging job when it comes to casting. The star of the biographical movie will have to be pretty much exactly the same age as Stallone was in 1976’s Rocky, which essentially means there will be a direct comparison to be made. If the person playing Stallone doesn’t look, sound, or act like the star, it will stand out like a sore thumb because audiences are very familiar with the Stallone of 1976, thanks to Rocky’s enduring popularity.

In contrast, the Rocky prequel series should be easier to cast because the show will be set before Stallone’s first appearance as Rocky. It will require an actor who is younger than Stallone was at the time of the first film, and, therefore, there won’t be so much of a direct comparison. Additionally, Rocky Balboa’s life before the original movie has never been depicted, meaning, in terms of performance, the actor can get away with putting their own stamp on the character. Meanwhile, if the star of I Play Rocky doesn’t properly emulate Sylvester Stallone, it will be very distracting.