Overview

• Tudyk revealed on Jim Cummings’s Toon’d In podcast that test screenings ranked his Sonny character above Will Smith’s role, leading the studio to omit his name from all pre-release marketing.
• Entertainment outlets including Variety, Deadline, Collider and Entertainment Weekly have published his account and reported that inquiries to Will Smith’s and studio representatives received no public response.
• I, Robot earned $353 million globally and an Oscar nomination for visual effects in 2004, but motion-capture performances were still emerging and often omitted from publicity efforts.
• The case underscores how studios prioritize marquee stars in publicity based on early audience data, frequently sidelining contributors whose performances resonate with viewers.
• Tudyk later regained visibility through high-profile mocap roles like K-2SO in Rogue One and Andor and continues to work across film and television in 2025.