A bit of intrigue has surrounded the debut of the Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer, as initial posters have faced accusations of being AI-generated. Marvel, however, has been quick to shut down these claims.
With advancements in technology, discerning the real from AI has become increasingly challenging. Gone are the days when a poorly edited image was immediately identifiable as a simple Photoshop fail. Today, any peculiar image immediately raises the suspicion, “Is this AI?” That’s precisely what happened with the release of the Fantastic Four: First Steps posters accompanying the trailer. A quick glance might explain why the AI speculation emerged.
For instance, one poster features a woman’s face twice in the crowd, and notably, someone waving a massive Fantastic Four flag appears to have just four fingers—a common giveaway of AI image generation. The lighting in these kinds of images usually has an offbeat quality, and these posters are no exception. Nonetheless, Marvel has assured The Hollywood Reporter that AI wasn’t used for their creation. Assuming they’re being honest, we’re left wondering why the posters seem so poorly executed.
It points to a broader concern of Marvel opting for economical measures, despite the resources at their disposal suggesting they can do better. Ironically, this approach contrasts with the trailer itself, which impressively seems to use actual sets instead of relying solely on green screens, something Marvel fans haven’t seen in a while. It’s likely these posters are just subpar Photoshop attempts, with details like the identically repeated face being atypical for AI errors. Still, the end result has viewers questioning the appeal of this new Marvel release if even minor elements feel compromised.
Of course, we can remain hopeful that the movie itself, due to hit theaters on July 25, will fare much better than its pre-launch promos suggest. But, as always, only time—or a trip to the cinema—will tell.
