During his appearance on Toon’d In with Jim Cummings, Alan Tudyk shared an intriguing story about his experience with the I, Robot publicity tour, revealing that he was unexpectedly omitted after test screenings indicated that his character resonated more positively with audiences compared to the film’s lead, Will Smith. This revelation highlights the unpredictable nature of Hollywood and how audience reactions can significantly impact marketing decisions.

“Many viewers were unaware that I voiced Sonny the Robot in ‘I, Robot,’ and there’s a reason for that,” Tudyk explained. “During the test screenings, they evaluate character performance, and I received feedback indicating, ‘Alan, you are performing better than Will Smith.’ After that, I was removed from all publicity efforts, and my name was not mentioned at all.”

The actor expressed his disbelief: “I was completely taken aback. I thought, ‘No one will realize I’m part of this!’ I dedicated a significant amount of effort into [that performance]. I had to emulate the movements of a robot, and it was disheartening at the time.”

Tudyk provided both the voice and motion-capture performance for Sonny in the film. At that time, motion-capture technology was still in its infancy in Hollywood, but audiences were beginning to appreciate its potential, largely due to Ahmed Best‘s performance as Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and Andy Serkis‘ portrayal of Gollum in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Years later, Tudyk revisited motion-capture technology to play K-2SO in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and he reprised this beloved role in the second season of Andor.

Although it has been a considerable time since I viewed I, Robot, I distinctly remember Sonny as a standout character; perhaps those test audiences were indeed onto something significant. While Tudyk may have been absent from the film’s publicity tour in 2004, he still made a memorable impression on audiences just weeks prior by stealing scenes as Steve the Pirate in Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. His comedic talents shone brightly, further solidifying his versatility as an actor.

Currently, Tudyk is lending his voice to another robotic character. He voices Robot #4 in James Gunn’s upcoming Superman movie, portraying one of the many robotic assistants found at the Fortress of Solitude. The film is currently showing in theaters, and fans should definitely check out the contrasting reviews from our own Chris Bumbray and Tyler Nichols. We would love to hear your thoughts on the film as well!