‘I Play Rocky’ Star Stephan James on Paying Tribute to Carl Weathers with His Red Carpet Look: ‘I Can Literally Walk in His Shoes Yet Again’

Stephan James paid tribute to Carl Weathers by donning a white suit on Saturday at the AFI Fest screening of his new movie “I Play Rocky.”

James plays the late actor in the Peter Farrelly film, which chronicles the making of Sylvester Stallone’s “Rocky” in 1976. ”

“This is a three-piece custom King & Bay bespoke suit,” James told me while walking the red carpet at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. “My friends in Toronto at King & Bay remade this suit for me because Carl Weathers wore the exact same suit to the ‘Rocky II’ premiere in Philadelphia. It was a three-piece white suit and I had them remake it so I can literally walk in his shoes yet again.”

The idea came from James’ publicist Samantha Hill. He accessorized with a rose brooch. “Carl had an actual rose, so this is my little twist on it,” James said. “I’m doing something a little more timeless with a brooch.”

Weathers played fighter Apollo Creed, who fought Rocky Balboa in the first two “Rocky” movies before becoming his coach in the third installment, died in “Rocky IV” during a match against Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren). Weathers passed away in 2024.

James also told me he had a little chat with Michael B. Jordan after he was cast as Weathers. Jordan played Apollo’s son in the three “Creed” movies. “‘Hey, I’m gonna be your daddy, Mike. I’m gonna be your daddy,’” James said. “So yeah, we had to talk.”

“I Play Rocky” stars Anthony Ippolito as Sylvester Stallone. The film has been earning critical raves — and Oscar buzz — since its premiere in early September at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The movie, from Amazon MGM, will be released in limited theaters on Nov. 6, followed by a wider release on Nov. 20.