After getting better ratings than Will Smith, the studio ignored Alan Tudyk.
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When Alan Tudyk fades
It’s not always all shiny in Hollywood. Sometimes you give your best performance and still get pushed to the sidelines.
That’s what happened to Alan Tudyk, who played a robot named Sonny in the 2004 film “I, Robot.”
The test audience verdict
Funnily enough, during a test screening, Tudyk found out that “Alan, you’re getting better ratings than Will Smith.”
That would be a joy for any actor, but in Hollywood, success can sometimes be a problem.
The studio’s weird decision
What did 20th Century Fox do? They removed Tudyk’s name from all promotional material and press coverage!
Imagine, after putting in so much effort to give a motion-capture performance, perfecting robotic movements, only to be completely ignored.
The real gist of the movie
“I, Robot” was directed by Alex Proyas and based on stories by Isaac Asimov.
Will Smith as Detective Del Spooner investigates a future where robots serve humanity.
Sonny (Tudyk) was one such robot who initially seemed to be an adversary but later became an ally.
History repeats
Interestingly, this disappointment surfaced again when USA Network abruptly canceled “Resident Alien”, even before the fourth season finale!
Tudyk’s disappointed reaction at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 reminded me of his earlier experience.
Facing the truth
This story is not just about an actor, but about the entertainment industry’s harsh decisions and the emotional impact they have on their artists.
Sometimes, no matter how good you do, your shine fades in front of the bigger names.
Behind every success, there is a story, and behind every failure, there is a lesson.
Perhaps this is the real story of Hollywood—the truth hidden behind the glitz.