Alan Tudyk's Unrecognized Role in 'I, Robot': A Behind-the-Scenes Look
Alan Tudyk shared an interesting anecdote during a recent appearance on the “Toon’d In with Jim Cummings” podcast. He revealed that he was removed from the marketing of the 2004 film “I, Robot” after test screenings showed that he was scoring higher with audiences than the lead actor, Will Smith. Tudyk portrayed the robot Sonny in the movie through motion capture and voice acting. This decision resulted in many people not realizing that he was part of the film.
Tudyk expressed his surprise and disappointment at being cut from the publicity for “I, Robot” despite his significant contribution to the role of Sonny. The actor had put a lot of effort into portraying the robot character and was disheartened by the lack of recognition for his performance.
In “I, Robot,” directed by Alex Proyas, Will Smith plays a detective investigating the death of a robotics company founder in a futuristic setting. Tudyk's character, Sonny, becomes a central figure in the detective's investigation, leading to a thrilling narrative that explores the relationship between humans and robots.
At the time of filming “I, Robot,” motion capture technology was still relatively new in Hollywood. Tudyk's portrayal of Sonny marked one of his early experiences with this innovative technology, paving the way for his future roles in motion capture performances, such as the droid K-2SO in “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” and the upcoming Disney+ series “Andor.”
To learn more about Alan Tudyk's insights and experiences, you can watch his full interview on the “Toon’d In with Jim Cummings” podcast.