Marvel Denies Using AI in ‘Fantastic Four’ Posters After Fan Backlash

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It didn’t take much time before Marvel Studios had to address allegations about the use of AI in their promotional materials for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”. Following criticism over a poster with apparent AI errors, such as two identical people in a crowd scene and an individual with four fingers instead of five, the studio issued a statement claiming no AI was involved. On platforms like X and Bluesky, this peculiar poster sparked interest due to its similarities with art often produced by AI. This led some users to suspect that the posters were entirely AI-generated, or at least partially AI-generated, in Marvel and Disney’s promotional campaign.

The surprising disclosure about the teaser poster for The Fantastic Four: First Steps certainly dampened initial enthusiasm. In reaction, a Marvel representative clarified to The Wrap that “Artificial Intelligence was not involved in producing these posters.” The studio did not provide additional information or name the artist responsible for the posters.

The apprehension about AI is justified indeed, especially considering Marvel Studios faced criticism for allegedly employing AI in the introductory credits of Secret Invasion during summer 2023. However, there’s no definitive evidence yet that they utilized AI artwork to design these posters. All we have is the studio’s statement as a guide. If it turns out Marvel Studios were untruthful about this matter, it would undoubtedly be an embarrassment for them and potentially harm the movie’s reception.

Is Marvel’s Official Statement Enough for Fans?

The controversy surrounding the poster for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” arises at a point when artificial intelligence (AI) has gained significant attention, stirring legitimate concerns. However, it’s crucial to note that misinformation can spread rapidly online. A recent instance is “The Brutalist,” where AI was employed during the editing phase to refine certain Hungarian accents for Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones. Even though the technology was used minimally in the film with Brody and Jones’s consent, and it was utilized similarly to traditional audio editing tools, a narrative has emerged claiming that Brody and Jones’s performances or accents were entirely created using AI. This isn’t the complete truth, but simplifying the story by stating that AI was used to enhance their performance is more straightforward than explaining the entire situation.

It’s doubtful that Marvel Studios’ explanation about their artwork will convince those who think it’s AI-generated. People can often choose to believe what they perceive, even when presented with clarification. For instance, the director of The Legend of Ochi made a statement explaining that the movie didn’t use AI artwork. However, despite knowing that the title character was created by a dedicated art team, many critics continued to accuse the film of using AI. They argued that the visuals “appeared to be AI,” missing the point entirely. It’s clear that Marvel Studios will probably pay closer attention to their next set of posters for The Fantastic Four: First Steps to avoid a similar situation.

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2025-02-04 23:31