Did AI Influence the Fantastic Four: First Steps Posters? Marvel Denies It, So Why Do They Look So Bad?

When the first trailer for Fantastic Four: First Steps dropped, it wasn’t long before the accompanying posters sparked some controversy. People were quick to accuse these posters of being whipped up by AI, although Marvel was swift to refute these claims.

In today’s world, where AI technology is advancing at such breakneck speed, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to distinguish AI-generated creations from human-made ones. Gone are the days when a bizarre image could simply be waved off as a Photoshop mishap. Now, the pressing question whenever something looks off is, “Is this AI-generated?” This very question surfaced with the release of a pair of posters for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. And, if you take a close look, it’s understandable why some reached that conclusion.

One of the posters shows a woman’s face appearing twice in the background crowd, and that’s not all. The person holding the largest Fantastic Four flag seems to be missing a finger—somewhat suspicious given the hallmark of AI generation is errant details like incorrect finger counts. The posters also exude a strange lighting effect, another characteristic often associated with AI-created images. Yet, a Marvel spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter that no AI was involved in crafting these posters. If they’re to be believed, then we’re left pondering another pressing issue: why do these posters fall so flat in quality?

This could point to a larger trend, suggesting Marvel might be cutting corners, despite having more than enough resources to ensure high-quality outputs. Oddly, this seems more incongruous considering the trailer appears to embrace real sets over CGI, marking a refreshingly old-school approach not seen for some time. My bet? We’re probably looking at poor Photoshop work here. The repeated face with no variation isn’t typical of AI’s style, which adds to the theory of human error. Nonetheless, it does raise a concerning point: why would audiences feel compelled to see a new Marvel film if even the seemingly simple tasks are rushed or poorly executed?

Hopefully, the final movie won’t fall into the same trap, but the truth will only unfold once it hits theaters on July 25.