Alan Tudyk Says I, Robot Cut Him From Promo After Audiences Preferred Him Over Will Smith

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In simpler terms, Alan Tudyk, known for his role in Resident Alien, explained that fans often don’t recognize him as Sonny the Robot from I, Robot (2004) because he was not heavily promoted in the film’s marketing due to early screenings indicating that audiences connected more with lead actor Will Smith rather than Tudyk’s character.

Why Alan Tudyk’s role in I, Robot went unnoticed

In an interview on the Toon’d In podcast with Jim Cummings, Tudyk revealed that many people were unaware he voiced Sonny the Robot in ‘I, Robot’. There is a reason for this: When they were conducting test audiences for the movie, characters were scored based on their performance in these screenings. The feedback I received was that ‘Alan, you are scoring higher than Will Smith’ during the tests. As a result, I was removed from the project. That’s how it ended.

The actor responsible for creating the endearing, robot character Sonny via motion capture and voice acting expressed that his exclusion from the project went beyond simple advertisements, as detailed by E! News. “There was no promotion, and my name wasn’t even mentioned,” Tudyk disclosed. “I was utterly astonished. I thought, ‘Wow, nobody will realize I’m in it!’

As an ardent admirer, let me tell you, taking on Sonny in my acting journey was no walk in the park. I poured my heart and soul into that role, and it required a level of dedication that was nothing short of intense.

You see, to bring Sonny to life, I had to master the art of robotic movements – something that was far from easy for this organic actor! Needless to say, at the time, I found myself feeling quite disheartened. Yet, through it all, I gave my best on set, ensuring both my physical performance and voice work were spot-on.

I believe that blending these two essential skills is often overlooked in our industry, but for me, they’re crucial components of any well-rounded actor’s arsenal.

Here’s why Tudyk thinks voice acting deserves more credit

A Star Wars Story, expressed that his experience working alongside Will Smith during filming suggests a wider problem in the entertainment industry. He stated, “I was there. I was driving things along, and I was frequently interacting with the actor.” Furthermore, he mentioned that his voice is integral to the world viewers are seeing on screen.

He pointed out that both voice and motion capture acting play a crucial role in a movie’s triumph, but these performances frequently fail to garner the same acclaim as those seen on screen.

As a dedicated follower, I must confess that some viewers might not have recognized Alan Tudyk behind the character Sonny. However, this talented actor has carved out an impressive career spanning films, television, and animation. From Firefly and Resident Alien to his roles in Disney’s animated blockbusters like Frozen and Zootopia, Tudyk has earned a reputation for his versatility.

Despite the I, Robot film experience serving as a testament to him, it often demonstrates that the acclaim in Hollywood isn’t always proportionate to the hard work invested off-screen.

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2025-08-12 14:22