Tudyk claims publicity exclusion in I, Robot

Alan Tudyk alleges his name was dropped from I, Robot publicity after Sonny the robot scored higher with test audiences than Will Smith.

Alan Tudyk says his name was omitted from I, Robot publicity

Alan Tudyk is making a bold claim about I, Robot publicity. He says his work as Sonny the robot, including motion capture, was effectively erased from the film’s marketing after test audiences responded more positively to the character than to Will Smith’s detective Spooner.
Tudyk spoke about the episode on a podcast, describing how he learned that his performance was testing higher than Smith’s and that afterward there was no publicity featuring his name. He notes he felt sidelined despite playing a central role in bringing Sonny to life, a moment he says left him upset.
Beyond I, Robot, Tudyk has built a long track record in science fiction, including Rogue One where he played K-2SO, and other high profile franchises. His account underscores a tension inside film marketing between performance credits and marketing dynamics.

Credit in film marketing is a delicate currency. When test audiences influence which stars appear in trailers and posters, the people who build the characters can be left unseen. Tudyk’s claim points to a broader issue: the battle over who gets credit when a character or concept resonates more than a lead actor. Marketing decisions can shape public memory of a film long after its release, sometimes at odds with the on screen work of performers.
The case also highlights how motion capture and voice work, often invisible in trailers, are essential to a character’s presence. Fans may care deeply about who performed the motion, but the industry struggles to translate that recognition into marketing visibility. The episode invites industry observers to ask whether current credit practice reflects the reality of modern filmmaking and whether more explicit behind the scenes credits or marketing notes are due.

Highlights

Credit and visibility in cinema keep evolving as marketing and art intersect.