Marvel Studios rejects allegations of AI in a The Fantastic Four: First Steps poster released shortly after the MCU movie’s first official trailer. Matt Shakman’s upcoming The Fantastic Four: First Steps is one of Marvel’s most anticipated projects in 2025, as it introduces a brand-new version of Marvel’s First Family. The Fantastic Four’s debut movie will probably be essential to the Multiverse Saga as well, as it presents an alternate universe that may become key to Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars in Phase 6.

On February 4, 2025, Marvel Studios released both The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ first trailer and a promotional poster, the latter of which shows a crowd of people who seem to be celebrating the team’s space shuttle mission. Immediately after the poster was released, social media reactions pointed out some inconsistencies in the image. For example, a hand waving a flag on the left side of the poster appears to have only four fingers, and a woman’s face seems to appear twice in the crowd. As a result, some social media users have accused Marvel Studios of using AI for The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ poster design.

It didn’t take long for Marvel Studios to address the controversy. Marvel confirmed to TheWrap that there was no use of AI in The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ “prepare 4 launch” crowd poster. Previously, Marvel’s Secret Invasion had come under fire for using AI in the show’s opening credits, and non-MCU movies like Brady Cobert’s The Brutalist have been criticized for implementing AI tools to enhance certain aspects of the filmmaking process.

What Marvel’s Response To The Fantastic Four Movie Poster AI Accusations Means

The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Prepare 4 Launch Poster Problems Aren’t Due To AI Usage

One of the common methods to spot AI usage in photos is to count the fingers on subjects’ hands and look for extra fingers or strange hand shapes. However, an unusual number of fingers isn’t irrefutable proof of AI. This kind of error is also present in regular photo compositing, and repeated faces in crowds even more so. The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ “Prepare 4 Launch” poster replicates the style of 1960s photography and fashion, and it features many moving elements inside the frame. In order to pull off an aesthetically pleasing effect, all the rapidly moving flags, placards, and confetti need to be edited, which can lead to some subtle inconsistencies.

Marvel received similar criticism when Thunderbolts*‘ first official poster was released. In that poster, Lewis Pullman’s Bob appears to have six fingers at first sight, which led to allegations of AI usage online. However, that was only an optical illusion, as Bob’s middle, ring, and pinky fingers overlap each other precisely at the border of the image, suggesting an extra finger off-screen. Marvel did use AI to create Secret Invasion‘s title sequence. Since then, fans may be inclined to attribute visual errors to AI.

Our Take On Marvel’s Response To The Fantastic Four Movie Poster AI Accusations

The Fantastic Four: First Steps Likely Won’t Use Any Type Of AI

The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ “Prepare 4 Launch” poster errors seem to be genuine photo editing mistakes not related to AI usage. The movie itself is even less likely to use AI, and many details in The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ first trailer suggest Marvel is taking attention to detail very seriously. For instance, the Thing’s appearance is both realistic and incredibly faithful to the comics, and each hero’s powers display subtle effects on the environment: the Human Torch’s flames reflect dust and the Invisible Woman’s force fields cause rainbow-like chromatic aberration on the camera. When it comes to posters like The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘, however, Marvel Studios may need to be more careful.