'Passengers' Co-Star Michael Sheen Ranks Space Robots

Will Lerner
·Producer, Yahoo Entertainment

One of the true highlights of Passengers is the performance given by Michael Sheen as Arthur, a robot (“android, technically”) bartender. On a big, lonely ship, Arthur’s straightforward charm is a welcome sight for sore eyes … especially if you’re awake on a long journey through space when you’re supposed to be asleep.

Michael Sheen as Arthur. (Photo: Sony Pictures)
Michael Sheen as Arthur. (Photo: Sony Pictures)

When Yahoo Movies attended the junket for Passengers, we asked Sheen where he’d rank his character among the greatest space robots. “Arthur would be too humble to put himself anywhere near the top,” he said.

Hal, 2001: A Space Odyssey

Hal from 2001 was the first to come to mind. (Photo: Everett Collection)
Hal from 2001 was the first to come to mind. (Photo: Everett Collection)

“I think he would put Hal at the top as the all-time great space robot messer-up-of-humans.”

Ash, Alien

The performance of Ian Holm (r) as Ash in Alien got a shout out from Sheen. (Photo: 20th Century Fox)
The performance of Ian Holm, right, as Ash in Alien got a shout-out from Sheen. (Photo: 20th Century Fox)

“I would say Ian Holm from Alien, who I think is possibly the first of the British-sounding robots in space that you don’t know is a robot, and it turns out he has a malevolent agenda. So I would have him up there as well.”

David, Prometheus

Michael Fassbender's David is the only robot from this century to make the cut. (Photo: 20th Century Fox Film Corp)
Michael Fassbender’s David is the only robot from this century to make the cut. (Photo: 20th Century Fox Film Corp)

“Michael Fassbender in Prometheus.” He’s very good…”

Robby the Robot, Forbidden Planet

Robby the Robot. (The one on the left. The one that's not the boy.) (Photo: Everett Collection)
Robby the Robot. (The one on the left. The one that’s not the boy.) (Photo: Everett Collection)

“I love Robby the Robot from Forbidden Planet. Just a classic, so I’d have him up there as well.”