The Fantastic Four: First Steps Poster Mistake Has Everyone’s Attention For All The Wrong Reasons

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The short preview for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” has received almost universal acclaim, but the movie’s latest posters have been met with criticism. Four pictures shared on Marvel’s social media platforms drew comments about notable visual flaws and suspicions regarding the application of generative AI in their creation. However, a representative from the studio told The Hollywood Reporter that AI was not involved in these poster designs – a claim that many still find hard to believe.

A frequently used method to discern whether an image is produced by AI or not is by examining the number of fingers on people’s hands, as AI systems often struggle with depicting hands accurately. In a social media poster displaying a crowd celebrating, the individual waving the leftmost blue flag only has three fingers and a thumb, which could hint at artificial origin. However, it is also possible that this error may stem from conventional photo editing rather than AI manipulation. Other peculiarities, such as the confusing “We 4 You” sign and an out-of-proportion tiny head on a Thing toy in another poster, have sparked suspicions of something not quite right.

According to the Marvel representative’s account, a simple mistake in photo-editing might be the reason behind the apparent extra fingers. However, The Hollywood Reporter didn’t quote the representative exactly, and sometimes precise language is crucial when discussing whether or how AI was involved. For instance, there was a dispute about “The Brutalist,” claiming it used AI for architectural images; various people involved in the project have given varying descriptions of the process. Moreover, it’s possible that AI-generated components may have been incorporated into the posters without the studio realizing it. As Adobe integrates AI functionalities into traditional editing tools like Photoshop, it’s not hard to imagine images like these being created through a mix of photography, human creativity, and AI generation.

This is not Marvel’s first AI controversy

If you’re familiar with Marvel Studios and their goings-on, you might recall an AI-related debate they found themselves in before. You see, in the case of “Secret Invasion,” Marvel used AI for the controversial opening credits. This didn’t sit well with many viewers. However, Method Studios, the VFX company responsible for the intro, assured The Hollywood Reporter that no artists’ jobs were lost due to the integration of these new technologies.

In an interview with Polygon, the director and executive producer of “Secret Invasion,” Ali Selim, explained that they chose to incorporate AI in their production as it aligned perfectly with the series’ themes. Essentially, the Skrulls’ ability to shape-shift made them a natural fit for AI technology, raising questions about identity, such as “Who did this? Who is this?” Selim said. He further elaborated that they would discuss ideas and concepts with the AI developers, who would then process these instructions and produce results. The team could slightly modify the output by using specific words, causing the AI to adjust its work accordingly.

In a more casual and simplified manner: Fans noticed what seemed like AI-generated images in promotional posters for “Loki” Season 2 and “Thunderbolts”, with one poster appearing to show an extra finger on Bob (Lewis Pullman). Some believe this could be due to optical illusions, but since the hand isn’t close to the image edge, it’s questionable if the cropping explanation applies here. Could the apparent extra finger in “First Steps” also be an optical illusion? It’s a possibility, but the hand’s position makes that explanation less convincing.

The artist everyone wishes did the posters instead

The design of the posters for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” appears to have been influenced by the artwork of Alex Ross. Ross is well-known for his detailed gouache paintings of famous superheroes, and he’s particularly recognized for his work on the 1994 Marvel Comics miniseries “Marvels” and the 1996 DC miniseries “Kingdom Come.” James Gunn’s upcoming “Superman” also references these works in its costume design. More recently, Ross wrote and illustrated the 2022 graphic novel “Fantastic Four: Full Circle.” If AI was used to create the posters as some people claim, it seems possible that Alex Ross was one of the models used for the artwork. Some fans even think they might see a reference to another of Ross’s works, with speculation that one of the photographers in the crowd poster is Philip Sheldon from “Marvels.

It is undisputed among critics that if Alex Ross had created these posters instead of these AI-inspired imitations, they would have been far superior. TV editor Jonathan Kramer expressed this sentiment on Bluesky, stating, “Alex Ross is currently producing some of his finest work in years on Fantastic Four covers, yet they produce this dull AI garbage so that a multitude of lazy creative directors and VPs can scrutinize it endlessly.” Video game artist Fellipe Martins echoed these sentiments, describing the posters as a “disrespectful, shoddy mess,” while praising Alex Ross’ work as a potential masterpiece for the ages.

As a die-hard fan, I can hardly contain my excitement! The highly anticipated “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” hits the big screen on July 25, 2025. Fingers crossed that this cinematic masterpiece steers clear of any AI interference!

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2025-02-05 15:30