Alan Tudyk Reveals Why His Name Was Removed From Marketing For One Of His Classic Robot Performances

Alan Tudyk has revealed why his name was removed from the marketing for I, Robot. Released in 2004, the sci-fi action movie stars Will Smith, James Cromwell, and Tudyk, and is based on Isaac Asimov’s short stories. Set in Chicago in 2035, I, Robot follows the robot-hating Detective Del Spooner’s (Smith) investigation into the sentient robot, Sonny (Tudyk).

I, Robot grossed $353 million worldwide on an estimated budget of $105-120 million, but received mixed reviews, scoring a 57% Tomatometer and 70% Popcornmeter. I, Robot subsequently became a classic Will Smith movie, but not many people know Alan Tudyk starred in it, or even that he played the film’s most emotional and philosophical character.

Now, via the Toon’d In! with Jim Cummings podcast, Tudyk has revealed why his name was left out of I, Robot‘s marketing, despite him playing one of the main characters. Tudyk stated, “a lot of people didn’t know I did Sonny the Robot in I, Robot,” and the reason was due to test audiences’ responses. Check out Tudyk’s explanation below:

So, a lot of people didn’t know I did Sonny the Robot in I, Robot, and there’s a reason for that actually, because they were doing test audiences with the movie, and they score the characters in this kind of test audience, and I got word back: “Alan, you’re testing higher than Will Smith.”

As a result of audiences favoring Tudyk’s Sonny character in I, Robot’s test screenings, he was removed from the marketing campaign so as not to distract from Smith’s Spooner. Tudyk said: “I was gone. I was done. There was no publicity and my name was not mentioned […] and I was so shocked.” Realizing nobody would recognize his performance, Tudyk further said: “At the time I was very upset.“

What This Means For I, Robot

Bridget Moynahan, Alan Tudyk, and Will Smith in I, Robot, walking the robot down the corridor

Studios often use test audiences to gauge everything from character appeal to narrative clarity. If a secondary character (especially a CGI-rendered robot) outshines the main star, it might undercut the film’s messaging. This was evidently the case for I, Robot, with Tudyk delivering one of his best movie performances as Sonny, stating: “I put a lot into it.”

Tudyk’s account, unfortunately, highlights a rarely discussed reality in Hollywood involving the politics of star power and image control. In this case, his performance as a supporting actor playing a motion capture character was seemingly sidelined to preserve the dominance of Will Smith’s name, who was one of the biggest box office draws in the world at the time.

Our Take On Alan Tudyk’s I, Robot Story

Sonny the robot being examined by Bridget Moynahan as Dr Calvin in I, Robot

Tudyk’s Sonny is one of the most emotionally resonant robot characters ever put to screen and was part of the reason why Will Smith’s I, Robot was successful. The fact that Tudyk’s (in my opinion, rather significant) contribution to I, Robot was completely minimized during marketing just to protect another acto’’s star status is, therefore, kind of disappointing.

With motion capture and voice acting now receiving more recognition thanks to landmark performances like Andy Serkis’ Gollum, it’s clear Tudyk was ahead of the curve. His work in I, Robot still holds up today, especially with the rise of AI, so hopefully, following this interview, fans will know how much Tudyk contributed to one of Will Smith’s best movies.