Marvel Debunks AI Use in Fantastic Four Posters Amid Finger Count Controversy

Marvel Studios has firmly denied using artificial intelligence to generate posters for their upcoming film, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, despite fan speculation sparked by a seemingly four-fingered man in one of the promotional images. The marketing campaign for the movie launched this week, featuring a teaser trailer and several posters shared across social media platforms.

One particular poster drew significant attention due to a man holding a large Fantastic Four flag who appeared to have only four fingers on his left hand. This led to widespread speculation on social media about the potential use of generative AI in creating the poster. Observers pointed out other anomalies such as duplicated faces, misaligned gazes, and disproportionately sized limbs, further fueling the AI debate.

In response to these concerns, a spokesperson from Disney/Marvel clarified to IGN that AI was not involved in the creation of these posters, suggesting alternative explanations for the observed discrepancies. Some fans theorized that the man's missing finger might be obscured behind the flagpole, though this explanation seems unlikely given the angles and proportions involved. Others speculated that the issue could stem from a simple error in the post-production process, perhaps an oversight in editing the original image.

Despite Marvel's statement, the absence of a direct explanation regarding the four-fingered man has left room for continued speculation. The discussion has extended to other elements in the poster, such as the repeated faces, which some believe could be the result of common digital editing techniques rather than AI.

The controversy surrounding the poster has intensified scrutiny on all promotional materials for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. As fans eagerly await further developments, there is ample content available on the film, including insights into characters like Galactus and Doctor Doom.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps - Trailer 1 Stills

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The debate over the use of AI in the poster's creation has prompted a poll among fans, asking whether they believe AI was involved: