Alan Tudyk dropped from ‘I, Robot’ press tour for being more popular than Will Smith
Alan Tudyk claimed he was dropped from the marketing of 2004’s “I, Robot” after it was discovered in test screenings that he was actually testing higher with audiences than leading man Will Smith.
Tudyk appeared in the film as the robot Sonny via motion capture and voice acting. Axing him from the movie’s publicity meant there were (and still are) people who have no idea he starred in the movie, the actor said.
“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.”
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 14 | August 13, 2025 1:27 PM
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“I was so shocked,” he continued. “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.”
Variety has reached out to Smith’s representative for comment.
“I, Robot,” directed by Alex Proyas, stars Smith as a Chicago police detective in 2035 investigating the alleged suicide of the founder of a robotics company. The corporation’s highly-intelligent robots are utilized for public service jobs, but Smith’s detective is convinced one of these robots, Tudyk’s Sonny, murdered the founder. The supporting cast includes Bridget Moynahan, Bruce Greenwood, James Cromwell and Chi McBride.
Outside of Jar Jar Binks in the “Star Wars” prequels and Gollum in “The Lord of the Rings” movies, motion capture technology and performances were still relatively new in Hollywood when Tudyk played Sonny in “I, Robot.” He would go on to use the technology again years later when he played the droid K-2SO in the “Star Wars” movie “Rogue One,” a role he reprised in the Disney+ prequel series “Andor.”
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 1 | August 12, 2025 7:46 PM
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I love that all the dirt is coming out about Will Smith!
What a diva.
by Anonymous | reply 2 | August 12, 2025 7:57 PM
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He has always been a Diva. on Fresh Prince, and even in his first movies. In Six Degrees of Separation, he refused to do the gay kiss scene because it would affect his image.
by Anonymous | reply 3 | August 12, 2025 8:02 PM
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I’ve always gotten little bitch vibes from him.
by Anonymous | reply 4 | August 12, 2025 8:04 PM
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[quote] he refused to do the gay kiss scene because it would affect his image
And yet, he would assault another actor on a live broadcast of one of the most watched television shows in the world, in front of hundreds of millions of people.
How ironic.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 5 | August 12, 2025 8:06 PM
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I think he has openly admitted to being a little bitch back then.
by Anonymous | reply 6 | August 12, 2025 8:08 PM
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If the question was “Would you have sex with Alan Tudyk or Will Smith?” I would also go with Tudyk.
I tend to like guys with dark hair and eyes or even Asian, but Tudyk turns me on. There was one show I saw where he was sporting a Speedo. It was done for humorous effect but he looked good.
by Anonymous | reply 7 | August 12, 2025 8:10 PM
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....according to Alan Tudyk
by Anonymous | reply 8 | August 12, 2025 8:13 PM
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Tudyk is far more likeable and relatable than Will Smith.
He's been working forever and is a great actor. He deserves more name recognition and acclaim.
I did watch the first handful of shows of the first season of Resident Alien and thought it was mildly entertaining.
by Anonymous | reply 9 | August 12, 2025 8:15 PM
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I always wondered if Alan was disappointed when the news reported on the man born with three penises.
by Anonymous | reply 11 | August 12, 2025 8:36 PM
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The robot goes and the kid with it.
by Anonymous | reply 12 | August 12, 2025 8:38 PM
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I remember Tudyk from Firefly, part of a terrific cast.
by Anonymous | reply 13 | August 12, 2025 8:42 PM
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r5 If you remember there was much discussion about how Will was standing up for Jada in the black community. That he was A MAN!
by Anonymous | reply 14 | August 13, 2025 1:27 PM
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