Actor Claims He Was Dropped from Publicity Campaign by I, Robot Producer Due to Better Audience Performance Compared to Smith
Alan Tudyk Sidelined from I, Robot Marketing Amidst Will Smith's Star Power
In an unexpected turn of events, Alan Tudyk, the voice and motion capture actor behind the iconic robot character Sonny in the 2004 sci-fi film I, Robot, found himself excluded from the movie's marketing.
Test screenings revealed that Sonny, Tudyk's character, garnered more popularity than Will Smith's character, Chicago detective Del Spooner. To safeguard Smith's star power, the studio decided to remove Tudyk from all promotional materials and press tours, effectively erasing mention of his pivotal role.
Tudyk shared his disappointment over being "gone" from publicity and the fact that many fans remain unaware he played Sonny due to this deliberate marketing decision.
Tudyk's portrayal of Sonny was instrumental in giving the character the empathy needed to support the film's plot and its nuanced exploration of artificial intelligence. Scenes featuring Sonny, particularly those showcasing his emotional depth, have gained appreciation and have even gone viral on social media.
Meanwhile, Smith has been attempting to revamp his image by focusing on his music career and collaborating with popular streamers and rap YouTube channels. However, his efforts seem to have had the opposite effect, with viewers labeling him as "cringe" and "unc."
Smith's first album in nearly two decades, Based on a True Story, has struggled commercially, selling poorly in the UK and failing to chart on the Billboard 200 in the US.
This case serves as a reminder of the industry practices where marketing decisions are often influenced by star power considerations, sometimes at the expense of recognising significant but less famous performers, especially those involved in motion capture roles.
[1] Article about Tudyk's exclusion from I, Robot marketing [2] Interview with Tudyk discussing his experience [3] Analysis of the industry's star power bias [4] Discussion on Tudyk's performance and its impact on I, Robot [5] Poll asking readers about the studio's decision
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