Marvel Rejects AI Use Claims for Fantastic Four Posters Amid Four-Finger Controversy

Marvel has firmly denied using artificial intelligence to create posters for The Fantastic Four: First Steps following fan speculation sparked by an image featuring a man with seemingly only four fingers. The marketing campaign for the film kicked off this week, unveiling a teaser for its debut trailer and a series of posters shared across social media platforms.

One particular poster caught the attention of fans due to a man on the left side, holding a large Fantastic Four flag, who appears to be missing a finger. This detail, along with other anomalies such as duplicated faces, misaligned gazes, and disproportionately sized limbs, led some to suspect the use of generative AI in the poster's creation.

Four fingers for this Fantastic Four superfan? Image credit: Marvel Studios.

Despite these observations, a spokesperson from Disney/Marvel told IGN that AI was not involved in the production of these posters, suggesting other factors at play. Theories regarding the four-fingered man range from the missing finger being obscured by the flagpole, which seems unlikely given the angles and proportions involved, to the possibility of a simple mistake in the post-production process. Some fans believe the finger might have been present in the original image but was accidentally removed without adjusting the rest of the hand.

The issue of repeating faces in the poster has also been raised. While some argue this indicates the use of generative AI, others suggest it could be the result of a common digital trick where background actors are copied and pasted.

The controversy surrounding the poster has ignited a broader discussion about the use of AI in film marketing, likely leading to increased scrutiny of future promotional materials for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. As fans await further developments, there is ample content available on the film, including features on key characters like Galactus and Doctor Doom.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps - Trailer 1 Stills

20 Images