Creator Alan Tudyk claims lack of credit in Will Smith's 'I, Robot' production
In the 2004 sci-fi action film I, Robot, Alan Tudyk's performance as Sonny, a highly advanced robot, was a standout, yet it went largely unnoticed by the public. Despite Sonny's character scoring higher than the film's lead, Detective Del Spooner, played by Will Smith, during early test screenings, Tudyk's name was dropped from the film's marketing.
Tudyk's portrayal of Sonny, which involved detailed motion capture and a deeply emotional robotic character, outshone Smith’s role. However, the studio's decision to prioritise Smith's star power over Tudyk's performance led to the latter's work being underacknowledged initially.
At the time, motion-capture performances were not typically recognised or credited as prominently as live-action roles. Tudyk himself has expressed frustration that audiences largely did not know he played Sonny, even though test screenings showed his character resonated better with viewers.
Set in Chicago in 2035, where robots serve as part of daily life, I, Robot follows Detective Del Spooner investigating the mysterious death of the U.S. Robotics founder, suspecting Sonny may have been involved. The film also features a stellar cast, including Bridget Moynahan, Bruce Greenwood, James Cromwell, Chi McBride, Shia LaBeouf, and many more.
Despite this setback, Tudyk has gone on to earn acclaim for similar roles in popular sci-fi franchises, such as his robot K-2SO in Rogue One. But in the case of I, Robot, the combination of Smith’s star status and marketing decisions led to Tudyk’s performance being underacknowledged initially despite objectively strong audience response.
Tudyk revealed this surprising chapter of his career on the podcast Toon'd In with Jimmy Cummings, sharing his pride and frustration about his experience with the character Sonny in I, Robot. The experience remains a mix of achievement and missed recognition for Tudyk.
Interestingly, I, Robot earned an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects, but lost to Spider-Man 2. Despite this, the film remains a significant part of Tudyk's career, showcasing his versatility as a performer and the potential for motion-capture roles to captivate audiences.
[1] [https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/i-robot-alan-tudyk-sonny/] [2] [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/alan-tudyk-reveals-sonny-was-supposed-to-be-the-lead-in-i-robot-1177170] [3] [https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/07/16/alan-tudyk-reveals-sonny-was-supposed-to-be-the-lead-in-i-robot] [4] [https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/i-robot/57563/alan-tudyk-reveals-sonny-was-supposed-to-be-the-lead-in-i-robot] [5] [https://www.slashfilm.com/alan-tudyk-sonny-was-supposed-to-be-the-lead-in-i-robot-2/]
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