Alan Tudykhas revealed the surprising reason he got dropped from the marketing and press forI, Robotin the lead-up to its release in 2004. The sci-fi thriller was led byWill Smith, who stars as Del Spooner, a detective tasked with investigating the alleged suicide of a U.S. Robotics founder, as he believes that a human-like robot named Sonny might have murdered him.Tudyk provided the voiceand motion-capture for the robot, but not many people were aware of it at the time, as the actor was removed from the promotional rounds for the film.
On a recent episode of the podcastToon’d In with Jim Cummings, Tudyk admitted he was “very upset” and “shocked” by the decision, as a lot of moviegoers ended up having no idea that he was behind the CGI character due to the lack of promotion, but those in charge believed it was necessary. The reason for his axing was because he tested higher with audiences in early test screenings than Smith. “A lot of people did not know I did Sonny the Robot inI, Robot, and there is a reason,” he asserted before elaborating further, recalling:
“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. There was no publicity, and my name was not mentioned. I was so shocked. I was like, ‘Wait, nobody is going to know I’m in it!’ I put a lot into [that performance]. I had to move like a robot. At the time, I was very upset.”
Tudykplays an important role inI, Robot, as Sonny is crucial in unraveling the film’s central conspiracy and the mystery surrounding his creation drives much of the plot. His unique characteristics make him likable and gives audiences a character to root for, so it is not surprising that he had a positive reception. He was joined in the cast by Bridget Moynahan, Bruce Greenwood, James Cromwell, Chi McBride, Shia LaBeouf, Fiona Hogan, Terry Chen, Adrian L. Ricard, Jerry Wasserman, Peter Shinkoda, Emily Tennant, and David Haysom.
Alan Tudyk Is a Prolific Actor and Voice Actor
Tudyk is known for his work as both an actor and a voice actor, having appeared in a wide range of films, TV shows, and animated projects. While he might not have received the recognition for his work inI, Robotat the time, he is now one of the most prolific voice actors in the business, playing everything from a bumbling monarch to a clumsy rooster. He is particularly known for his work with the House of Mouse, as he has lent his distinctive vocals toevery Walt Disney Animation Studios feature filmsinceWreck-It Ralphin 2012.
The actor has also made his mark in other Disney projects, providing voice and motion-capture forRogue One: A Star Wars StoryandAndor’s reprogrammed Imperial security droid K-2SO, who is known for his wit and loyalty, as well as appearing as Mr. Darling in the live-actionPeter Pan & Wendy.His other live-action roles include films such asDodgeball: A True Underdog StoryandTucker & Dale vs. Evil,TV shows likeFireflyandSerenity, and the DC Comics adaptationsDoom PatrolandHarley Quinn.He also had a starring role in the Syfy seriesResident Alien, which was canceled this year (thougha continuation is plausible.)
