The Toronto International Film Festival has expanded its lineup for the 51st edition, adding several world premieres and high‑profile titles.
Among the new entries is I Play Rocky, a biopic about the making of the 1976 film Rocky. The film is directed by Peter Farrelly and stars Anthony Ippolito as Sylvester Stallone.
I Play Rocky dramatizes Stallone’s struggle to retain both the screenplay and the lead role, highlighting the financial offers he rejected. The narrative emphasizes his determination to keep the project despite seemingly impossible odds.
The cast also includes Stephan James, Matt Dillon, AnnaSophia Robb, P.J. Byrne, Toby Kebbell, Tracy Letts, Jay Duplass and Kiki Seto.
Chris Rock’s Misty Green will debut as a world premiere, with Rock writing, directing and starring alongside Rosalind Eleazar, Adam Driver, Daniel Kaluuya, Anna Kendrick, Topher Grace and Anthony Anderson.
Courteney Cox headlines Evil Genius, a true‑crime drama that explores the infamous “pizza bomber” case.
Jesse Eisenberg returns with The Debut, a follow‑up to his Oscar‑winning A Real Pain.
Danny Boyle’s Ink, featuring Guy Pearce as media mogul Rupert Murdoch, will make its North American debut after opening the Venice festival.
The closing‑night film will be Villeneuve: The Rise of a Legend, a sports drama chronicling the early career of Canadian Formula One driver Gilles Villeneuve.
Other notable North American premieres include the Norwegian political drama Fjord, starring Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve, and the comedy Babies, written by Lauren Miller Rogen and Seth Rogen.
The science‑fiction comedy Alpha Gang, with an ensemble cast that includes Channing Tatum, Zoe Kravitz, Riley Keough, Cate Blanchett, Dave Bautista, Chris Pine and Lily Rose Depp, is also on the program, as is Love of Your Life, produced by Ryan Gosling.
The festival runs from September 10 to 20. It draws filmmakers and audiences from around the world, showcasing a diverse slate of new cinema.
