Did AI Influence Those Fantastic Four: First Steps Posters? Marvel Denies It, Leaving Questions About Their Quality

Recently, a couple of posters released with the first trailer for Fantastic Four: First Steps have stirred up some controversy. Many folks are pointing fingers, suggesting that AI might have had a hand in creating them. However, Marvel is firmly denying any such claims.

These days, figuring out whether something is AI-generated has become a real head-scratcher. With advancements in technology, it’s no longer easy to spot a poorly done Photoshop like it used to be. Now, when we see an image that seems off, the immediate reaction is to wonder, “Was this made by AI?” That’s exactly the situation this week with the release of posters for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. A quick glance at them, and you can see why some might raise an eyebrow.

Take a closer look, and you’ll notice details like a woman’s face appearing twice in the crowd. Then there’s the character with the largest Fantastic Four flag, seemingly missing a fifth finger—hands not having the right number of fingers is often a giveaway for AI. And the lighting? It looks a bit strange, which is another common trait of AI-generated images. Yet, according to a Marvel spokesperson in a chat with The Hollywood Reporter, no AI was used for these posters. So, if that’s true, it begs the question, why do they look so lackluster?

It raises a broader issue of Marvel cutting corners, which seems odd given their resources. Strangely enough, the first trailer appears to break the trend, hinting at actual set designs rather than relying solely on green screens, which we’ve seen a lot recently. Honestly, I suspect these posters are just poorly done Photoshop. The identical repeating face isn’t typical of AI anyway. But it does leave me wondering why they would skimp on something as minor as this. It makes you question whether it’s worth rushing out to see another Marvel movie if they’re not investing in even the simpler details.

Hopefully, the film itself will exceed these early missteps, but we’ll only find out when it hits theaters later this year on July 25.