Rocky's Making-Of Film Faces Oscar Category Fight

The screenplay for "I Play Rocky," a film chronicling Sylvester Stallone's writing of the original "Rocky," is currently under review for its eligibility in Academy Award screenplay categories. Sources indicate ongoing discussions between Amazon MGM Studios, the Writers Guild of America (WGA), and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences regarding whether the script, penned by Peter Gamble, should be considered original or adapted.

Gamble developed the script as an original work, not based on any pre-existing published material. However, the substantial intellectual property surrounding the "Rocky" franchise, including its established characters and recognizable scenes, has prompted some to argue for an adapted classification. The Academy's Writers Branch executive committee will ultimately decide, a process that has seen the Academy diverge from WGA classifications in the past.

This situation echoes previous Oscar seasons, such as the reclassification of "Barbie" to adapted screenplay. The Academy's guidelines permit original classification for biographical films that utilize multiple sources, even if the subject's life has been previously documented. However, they also deem scripts based on "pre-existing characters" as adapted. The final ruling is expected by January 21, 2027, when Oscar nominations are announced.