Marvel Studios has firmly denied the use of artificial intelligence in creating the promotional posters for their upcoming film, *The Fantastic Four: First Steps*. The controversy arose when eagle-eyed fans noticed an image in one of the posters featuring a man with what appeared to be only four fingers, sparking a debate about the potential use of generative AI in the artwork. The poster in question, showcasing a man holding a large Fantastic Four flag, led to speculation about the authenticity of the image due to this peculiar detail.
The marketing campaign for *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* began this week with the release of a teaser for its debut trailer and a series of posters shared across social media platforms. Among these, the image that caught fans' attention depicted a man seemingly missing a finger, which, combined with other perceived anomalies such as duplicated faces, misaligned gazes, and disproportionately sized limbs, led to accusations of AI involvement.
In response to these concerns, a spokesperson from Disney/Marvel told IGN that no AI was used in the creation of the posters. This statement has shifted the conversation towards other possible explanations for the observed discrepancies. Some fans theorize that the man's missing finger might be obscured behind the flagpole, though this seems unlikely given the angles and sizes involved. Others suggest that the poster may simply be a result of subpar Photoshop work, highlighting issues with manual editing rather than AI-generated content.
Despite the official denial, Disney/Marvel has not provided a direct explanation for the four-fingered man, fueling further speculation. It's possible that the missing finger was present in the original image but was inadvertently erased during post-production, with the rest of the hand not adjusted accordingly. Similarly, the repeated faces in the background could be attributed to common digital techniques used in film marketing, rather than AI.
The debate surrounding the use of AI in *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* posters is likely to intensify scrutiny over future promotional materials for the film. As the discussion continues, fans can look forward to more details on the movie, including insights into characters like Galactus and Doctor Doom.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps - Trailer 1 Stills
