Marvel Denies AI Use in Fantastic Four Posters Amid Four-Fingered Man Controversy

Marvel has firmly denied using artificial intelligence to create promotional posters for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, following fan speculation sparked by an image featuring a man who appears to have only four fingers. The marketing campaign for the film began this week, unveiling a teaser for the debut trailer and a collection of posters on social media.

One particular poster caught fans' attention due to a man holding the largest Fantastic Four flag, who seems to be missing a finger. This image, depicted below, has led to discussions about the possible use of generative AI in its creation. Observers have pointed out other anomalies such as duplicated faces, faces not properly aligned, and disproportionately sized limbs.

Four fingers for this Fantastic Four superfan? Image credit: Marvel Studios.

Despite these observations, a spokesperson from Disney/Marvel clarified to IGN that AI was not utilized in creating these posters, hinting at other explanations for the observed discrepancies.

Regarding the four-fingered man, some fans speculate that the missing finger might be hidden behind the flagpole. However, given the angles and sizes involved, this explanation seems unlikely. Others suggest the issue might be due to poor Photoshop work, pointing to human error rather than AI involvement.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps - Trailer 1 Stills

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Disney/Marvel has yet to provide a direct comment on the four-fingered man or clarify the incident, fueling further speculation. Some believe the missing finger could be a simple oversight during post-production, where the finger was present in the original image but removed without adjusting the rest of the hand. Similarly, the repeated faces in the poster might be the result of a common digital trick used in background actors, rather than AI generation.

The controversy surrounding the use of AI in The Fantastic Four: First Steps poster has intensified scrutiny on future promotional materials for the film. As we await more information, there's plenty to explore about The Fantastic Four: First Steps, including detailed features on characters like Galactus and Doctor Doom.