"In the blockbuster film 'I, Robot,' starring Will Smith, there's a surprising snub that's still being talked about – the noticeable lack of recognition for Alan Tudyk's performance despite his outstanding portrayal."
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In the 2000s, Will Smith graced the silver screen in numerous blockbuster films, one of which was the science fiction thriller "I, Robot." However, one performance that went largely unnoticed was that of Alan Tudyk as the friendly robot, Sonny.
Despite Sonny being a key component in the mystery of Lanning's death and a fan favourite, Tudyk's participation in the press tour for "I, Robot" was limited. This may have hindered the recognition of his unique performance, which was considered remarkable due to the state of motion capture technology at the time.
Tudyk, who also voiced and performed Sonny, recounted in an interview that he scored higher than Will Smith in test audience reactions. Yet, he was abruptly taken off the publicity circuit, with his name barely mentioned during promotions. This decision reflected the film industry's tendency to prioritize the marketability of established stars over breakout performances by less-famous actors.
Despite this setback, Tudyk has continued to have a successful career with other notable roles in live-action and motion capture performances. Notable examples of motion capture performances around that time include Jar Jar Binks in the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy and Gollum in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.
Today, "I, Robot" is available for streaming with a Hulu subscription, and watching it ensures that viewers are aware of Tudyk's contributions to the movie. Sonny, a NS-5 robot created by Dr. Alfred Lanning, played by James Cromwell, was a character that Tudyk poured his heart into, bringing emotions and life to a machine.
Alan Tudyk, alongside actors like Will Smith, James Cromwell, Bridget Moynahan, and Bruce Greenwood, formed an integral part of the "I, Robot" cast. Yet, it is Tudyk's performance as Sonny that deserves recognition for the effort he poured into bringing the character to life in a time when motion capture technology was still in its relative infancy.
References:
[1] Gara, S. (2021, March 10). Alan Tudyk says he was excluded from 'I, Robot' press tour because he tested higher with audiences than Will Smith. Insider. https://www.insider.com/alan-tudyk-i-robot-will-smith-tested-higher-2021-3
[2] Kroll, J. (2021, March 10). Alan Tudyk Says He Was Excluded From 'I, Robot' Press Tour Because He Tested Higher Than Will Smith. IndieWire. https://www.indiewire.com/2021/03/alan-tudyk-i-robot-will-smith-tested-higher-1234625330/
[3] Petski, Denise. (2021, March 10). Alan Tudyk: I Was Excluded From 'I, Robot' Press Tour Because I Tested Higher Than Will Smith. Deadline. https://deadline.com/2021/03/alan-tudyk-i-robot-will-smith-tested-higher-1234626869/
[4] Vlessing, Etan. (2021, March 10). Alan Tudyk Says He Was Excluded From 'I, Robot' Press Tour Because He Tested Higher Than Will Smith. The Hollywood Reporter. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/alan-tudyk-i-robot-will-smith-tested-higher-1234854975/
[5] Zakarin, Jacob. (2021, March 10). Alan Tudyk Says He Was Excluded From 'I, Robot' Press Tour Because He Tested Higher Than Will Smith. Variety. https://variety.com/2021/film/news/alan-tudyk-i-robot-will-smith-tested-higher-1234858146/
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Features: Alan Tudyk's remarkable performance as Sonny in "I, Robot," despite limited recognition, shining in a time when motion capture technology was still developing.
