Alan Tudyk Claims He Was Cut From ‘I, Robot’ Promo Because Fans Preferred Him Over Will Smith

Alan Tudyk recently opened up about why many people don’t realize he played Sonny, the humanlike robot, in the 2004 film I, Robot. During a chat on the podcast Toon’d In with Jim Cummings, Tudyk revealed that he was completely cut from the movie’s promotional materials. The reason? Early test screenings showed that audiences liked his character more than Will Smith’s.

Alan explained, “A lot of people did not know I did Sonny the Robot in I, Robot, and there is a reason. They were doing test audiences for the movie, and they score the characters in this kind of test screening. I got word back: ‘Alan, you are testing higher than Will Smith.’ And then I was gone. I was done.”

The actor, recalled how the decision went beyond just the promos. “There was no publicity, and my name was not mentioned,” he said. This left him shocked and a little hurt. “I was so shocked. I was like, ‘Wait, nobody is going to know I’m in it!’”

Playing Sonny was no easy task. Tudyk had to perform using motion capture technology, blending both physical acting and voice work to bring the character to life. He shared how much effort he put into the role. “I put a lot into [that performance]. I had to move like a robot. At the time, I was very upset.”

Tudyk’s story highlights a bigger issue he feels in the entertainment industry: voice acting often doesn’t get the respect it deserves. Having worked on many projects like Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Resident Alien, Tudyk pointed out the challenge of being recognized for this kind of work. “I was in the room. I’m at the wheel, I was with the actor back and forth. My voice is completely attached to the world that everyone is seeing,” he said, emphasizing how voice actors contribute deeply to the characters they play.

For Alan Tudyk, the experience of being cut from I, Robot marketing was disappointing but also a reflection of how the industry sometimes sidelines certain types of performances, especially those involving voice and motion capture.

Still, he remains proud of his work and hopes that more people will appreciate the art of voice acting as an essential part of storytelling.

I, Robot received mixed to average reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, 57% of 222 critics gave it a positive review, with an average rating of 6.1 out of 10. The site noted that while the film only loosely connects to Isaac Asimov’s original stories, it still offers a thought-provoking summer blockbuster experience.

Metacritic gave it a score of 59 out of 100 based on 38 critics, reflecting mixed feelings. However, audiences were more favorable, with CinemaScore polling giving the film an A− grade.

The movie opened at number one with $52.2 million. It earned $144.8 million in the US and Canada, and $202.4 million internationally, totaling $347.2 million worldwide. The film was made on a $120 million budget and ranked as the eleventh-highest-grossing movie of 2004.

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