Before he became one of Hollywood’s biggest stars and the creator of Rocky, Sylvester Stallone spent much of his childhood growing up in Montgomery County. Now, nearly 50 years after the iconic film first hit theaters, a new biographical drama will tell the story of the struggles he faced before becoming a household name.
I Play Rocky is an upcoming film that chronicles Stallone’s journey from a struggling, unknown actor to the writer and star behind the 1976 classic Rocky. According to Amazon MGM Studios, the movie will receive a limited theatrical release on November 6, 2026, before expanding nationwide on November 20, 2026, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the original film’s release.
The movie focuses on the risks Stallone took to get Rocky made, including his insistence on starring in the film despite pressure to sell the screenplay to a studio with a more established actor in the lead role. Interestingly, despite telling the story of his own life, Stallone was not involved in the project. He does not own the rights to the original Rocky, having sold them to producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff as part of the deal that allowed the film to be made. In recent years, Stallone has spoken publicly about regretting that decision.
While many know Stallone as a Philadelphia icon because of Rocky, his story actually includes a significant chapter in Montgomery County. Stallone lived in Montgomery County from approximately ages 5 to 15. During that time, he attended Woodlin Elementary School and Montgomery Hills Junior High School, which closed in 1982 and is now home to the Yeshiva of Greater Washington.
In a conversation with his daughters on their Unwaxed podcast, Stallone shared that he had been “banned from the entire Maryland school board,” though he did not elaborate on the circumstances. He also explained that he eventually attended military school during his junior high years.
The Stallone family’s ties to Montgomery County extended beyond school. His father, Frank Stallone Sr., owned hair salons in Silver Spring and Darnestown and was a member of the Potomac Polo Club in Poolesville. According to his father’s obituary, the family lived in Silver Spring for several years before briefly moving to Potomac. Stallone and his mother later relocated to Philadelphia, while his father remained in the area until the mid-1990s.
Although Rocky would eventually cement Stallone’s place in Philadelphia history, part of the journey that shaped one of Hollywood’s most recognizable underdog stories began right here in Montgomery County.
