Recently, with the launch of the first trailer for “Fantastic Four: First Steps,” there was a bit of controversy surrounding the accompanying promotional posters, with accusations that they were AI-generated. Marvel, however, has denied these claims. It’s becoming increasingly challenging to distinguish between AI-generated content and traditional methods due to the advancements in technology. Unlike the past, when noticeable errors immediately led to critiques of poor Photoshop skills, today, the first suspicion for any unusual image is typically, “was this made by AI?” This question arose this week with the release of two posters for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” A quick glance at them, and it’s clear why some might jump to such conclusions.
Take, for example, a woman’s face that appears twice in the crowd within the poster, or the individual waving the largest Fantastic Four flag who seems to be missing a finger—a classic indication of AI mishaps. The lighting too, seems off, lending an uncanny valley vibe to the images. Yet, Marvel has asserted through The Hollywood Reporter that no AI was involved in the creation of these posters. Accepting Marvel’s word, it prompts the question: why do they look so unpolished?
This issue seems symptomatic of a larger trend within Marvel where cost-cutting appears to be affecting quality, despite their substantial financial resources. Interestingly, this feels inconsistent with the trailer itself, which seemingly features real sets rather than relying heavily on green screens, a refreshing change. This highlights a lack of cohesiveness, suggesting perhaps these are just poorly executed Photoshop creations—the duplicate face doesn’t strike as something an AI would repeat so starkly. Nonetheless, it fosters doubt about whether investing time and money in a new Marvel release is worthwhile if such oversights are evident in the promotional tasks.
Hopefully, the film, slated for release on July 25, will exceed the expectations set by its promotional materials. But, we’ll have to wait and see.
