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Marvel Rejects AI Use in Fantastic Four Posters Amid Four-Finger Controversy

Author：Kristen Update：Apr 15,2025

Marvel Studios has firmly denied using artificial intelligence to create promotional posters for their upcoming film, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, following fan speculation sparked by a particular image. The marketing campaign for the movie began this week, featuring a teaser for the debut trailer and a series of posters released on social media.

One poster, in particular, caught the attention of fans due to a man depicted holding a large Fantastic Four flag with what appears to be only four fingers on his left hand. This image, shown below, led to widespread discussion on social media.

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

In addition to the four-fingered anomaly, fans pointed out other elements in the poster that they believed indicated the use of generative AI, such as duplicated faces, misaligned gazes, and disproportionately sized limbs. However, a spokesperson from Disney/Marvel clarified to IGN that no AI was used in the creation of these posters, suggesting that other factors might be at play.

Regarding the four-fingered man, some fans theorized that the missing finger could be hidden behind the flagpole, though this explanation seems unlikely given the angles and sizes involved. Others speculated that the issue might be due to a simple mistake in the post-production process, perhaps an oversight in Photoshop where the missing finger was inadvertently removed without adjusting the rest of the hand.

Disney/Marvel has not yet provided a direct explanation for the four-fingered man, leaving room for ongoing speculation. It's possible that the repeated faces seen in the poster could be the result of a common digital trick used in film production, involving copy/pasting background actors, rather than the use of AI.

This controversy has heightened scrutiny around the marketing materials for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. As the film's release approaches, fans can expect further discussions and analyses of upcoming assets. In the meantime, there is ample coverage on the movie, including features on key characters like Galactus and Doctor Doom.