Marvel has firmly denied using artificial intelligence to create promotional posters for The Fantastic Four: First Steps after fans pointed out an image featuring a man with what appears to be only four fingers. The marketing campaign for the film began this week, featuring a teaser for the debut trailer and a series of posters shared on social media.

One particular poster caught the attention of fans due to a man holding a large Fantastic Four flag who seems to be missing a finger. This image, shown below, sparked discussions and speculation about the use of generative AI in the poster's creation.

In addition to the four-fingered anomaly, fans have highlighted other elements in the poster that they believe indicate the use of AI, such as duplicated faces, misaligned gazes, and disproportionately sized limbs. Despite these observations, a spokesperson from Disney/Marvel told IGN that no AI was used in the creation of these posters, suggesting other factors may be at play.

Regarding the four-fingered man, some speculate that the missing finger might be hidden behind the flagpole, though this seems unlikely given the angles and sizes involved. Others believe it could be a simple error in the post-production process, perhaps a result of poor Photoshop work rather than AI involvement.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps - Trailer 1 Stills

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Disney/Marvel has not yet provided a direct explanation for the four-fingered man, leaving room for speculation. It's possible that the missing finger was present in the original image but was inadvertently removed during editing without adjusting the rest of the hand. Similarly, the repeated faces in the poster might be due to a common digital trick of copying and pasting background actors rather than using AI.

The controversy surrounding the use of AI in The Fantastic Four: First Steps poster has ignited a broader discussion and will likely lead to increased scrutiny of future promotional materials for the film. As we await further developments, there's plenty more to explore about The Fantastic Four: First Steps, including in-depth features on characters like Galactus and Doctor Doom.