Fantastic Four Poster Accused of Using AI-Generated Art

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Marvel Studios should be basking in the success of an exceptional first trailer for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps“, yet a potential cost-saving measure in their marketing division might have unintentionally tarnished some goodwill. Numerous social media users, including Simon Pegg, have flagged an issue with one of the reboot’s posters, claiming it appears to be art generated by an AI.

Marvel Studios and Disney spared no effort in unveiling the trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, even arranging a special gathering with the cast at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Besides the trailer, Marvel Studios also revealed a collection of posters that don’t focus on the main characters but aim to embody the film’s 1960s ambiance. However, these posters are generating buzz for an unusual reason: speculation about their creation using AI-generated artwork.

Many social media users, such as Simon Pegg among them, swiftly noticed an apparent use of AI art in several posters for the movie Fantastic Four: First Steps, mirroring a Life Magazine cover design. A key clue is a figure waving a flag who has just four digits on one hand, while a background character seems to appear twice. The way one individual holds a camera was particularly noticeable and sparked much discussion.

Aside from the woeful AI, I’m not sure if that’s supposed to be Sid James or John Shuttleworth with the camera at the front there.
— Simon Pegg (@simonpegg.bsky.social) 2025-02-04T14:56:33.291Z

It’s disheartening to see that Marvel Studios is using AI to steal Alex Ross’s art style for the Fantastic Four promos. Or rather, it SHOULD be disheartening, but it’s what we’ve come to expect.
— Barry Crain (@barrycrain.bsky.social) 2025-02-04T16:21:17.203Z

Marvel, with all their infinite money, decided to use AI slop to make this poster where one of the people in it gets reused and shows up twice.
— ms (@therealbozz.bsky.social) 2025-02-04T14:41:25.425Z

If those Fantastic Four posters really are using AI assets, it’s a spectacular own goal. They’re clearly riffing on the civilian POV angle of Marvels so…just hire Alex Ross? I’m sure someone there has his number, right?
— Dan Whitehead (@danwhitehead.net) 2025-02-04T15:19:36.251Z

That might be a record for the fastest a studio has pissed the goodwill created by a cool trailer down its leg.
— What’s Up, Doc(Hackenbush)? (@dochackenbush.bsky.social) 2025-02-04T15:19:07.947Z

On more than one occasion, film studios have faced criticism for employing AI-generated artwork in their promotional efforts. For instance, A24’s movie “Civil War” in 2024 was met with ridicule due to its AI-produced posters that didn’t align with the actual film. Similarly, Marvel Studios’ “Secret Invasion” opening credits showcased AI-generated images, which received significant backlash. It’s puzzling that Disney, a studio known for surpassing $1 billion at the global box office, would opt to skimp on their marketing campaign by using AI instead of hiring a real artist.

AI-Generated Art Controversy Now Overshadows The Movie

Beyond the obvious disappointment that Disney didn’t enlist artists for promotional work on The Fantastic Four: First Steps, it’s disheartening this occurred with a comic book series so deeply tied to artistic creativity. It appears Marvel Studios intended to mimic the style of Alex Ross, particularly his 1994 miniseries Marvels, which offers a perspective from an ordinary individual amidst the Marvel Universe’s events. The confrontation between the Fantastic Four and Galactus serves as the climax in this comic, explaining the desire for the promotional campaign to reflect that emotional resonance. However, given Alex Ross’s strong connection with Marvel Comics and his work on projects like the opening credits for Spider-Man 2, one might wonder why they didn’t recruit him directly for this task.

Using AI-generated artwork for the Fantastic Four poster, as decided by Disney and Marvel Studios, demonstrates a quick fix that might bring temporary advantages but could potentially lead to long-term issues. Instead of stirring anticipation about The Fantastic Four joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe or appreciating the intended 1960s vibe of the movie, the controversy surrounding these AI posters will likely linger over the film’s promotion and discussion. If they choose to remove the posters, it still leaves a lingering doubt about the quality of the film. One may wonder if the studio is compromising on other aspects of the movie if they are willing to settle for AI-generated artwork. This whole situation could have been circumvented by utilizing Marvel’s wealth of talented comic artists or Disney’s pool of concept artists to create a captivating retro 1960s poster.

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2025-02-04 20:05