Alan Tudyk Says He Got Dropped From ‘I, Robot’ Publicity After Testing Higher Than Will Smith With Test Screening Audiences: ‘I Was Very Upset’

https://variety.com/2025/film/news/alan-tudyk-i-robot-test-screenings-will-smith-1236486844/

38 comments

  1. > “A lot of people did not know I did Sonny the Robot in ‘I, Robot,’ and there is a reason,” Tudyk 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.”

    > “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.”

  2. I had no idea he was even in the movie, let alone playing Sonny.

  3. I don’t know if there’s been a bigger recent turnaround on the public perception of someone than Will Smith if you don’t count anything seriously criminal

    This is like finding out The Rock is contractually obligated to win every fight in his movies

  4. If he had insisted on being involved in the PR, “you know who” would have given him such a slap.

  5. Hoooly shit, I didn’t even know he was in it. Even when it came out, that would’ve made a difference for me. Fucking A-listers and their egos. Pathetic. It makes me think of actors who have it in their contracts that they can’t lose a fight in a movie or something. It’s just pathetic. No amount of perceived toughness or coolness is worth how far you’ll plummet when it’s found out that that was built by a clause in a contract.

  9. I only knew he was in it because I’m a huge Firefly and Asimov fan.

  10. Another article showing us that Will Smith is a fucking bitch

  12. The movie was called I,ROBOT not I,Fresh Prince

    Of course the robot tested higher!!

    Also early Shia Labeuf was in this too !!

  13. I did not need another reason to despise Will Smith more than I already do, but I’m happy to take it

  14. I, Robot is an absolutely terrible movie, up there with the Robocop and Total Recall remakes. If you’re asking yourself “I wonder if I, Robot holds up-” it doesn’t. It’s like the most forgettable scifi ascestism except for remembering how ugly everything is. They couldn’t even rip off Minority Report properly.

    …I really hate this movie.

  15. This might be an unpopular opinion but I cannot watch anything Tudyk is in. Something about him just turns me off — no idea why

  18. remember in 2018 when Will Smith was starting a youtube vlogging channel, and did rewind that everyone made fun of him for? that was the beginning. are there any clone theories? he hasn’t been the same.

  21. Will Smith’s ego to talent disproportion should be studied

  22. Will Smith doing his damndest to make sure everyone keeps Alan Tudyk’s name out their mouth

  23. How does this surprise anyone? My gym shoes would tear higher than Will Smith.

  24. He even sort of looks like Alexander skarrsgard’s humanoid in whatever that series was..

  26. Oh, did you want us to go down to the liquor store and get you some… liquor?

  27. “I did not murder him!”

    “Nah, but am a murder your career, G. No one upstages the fresh prince. Especially not in the summer time!”

    I thought that Will Smith today was just walking around, talking about pretty girls, and looking like some vandalised statue to cool this dude was. But the more you hear, the more you think OG Aunt Viv might have had a point…

  29. Which is crazy because a lot of behind the scenes features focus on how well he pulled of Sunny.

  30. Aw man, how do they treat him so poorly. Seems like such a good dude. Loved him in a Knights Tale and Resident Alien has been phenomenal.

  31. I’m an Asimov fan but didn’t watch this because Will Smith was in it.

  33. So question becomes did the studio PR team over react or did Will Smith order his removal. Either is very plausible.

  34. BREAKING: Will Smith is a hack and a douchebag, more at 11

  37. I enjoyed Tudyk in everything he has done. Especially as Mr Nobody.

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