What has four fingers and loves the Fantastic Four? Not an AI-generated image, according to Marvel. Along with today’s first trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the studio also released several very cool, very nostalgic-looking teaser posters which you see a glimpse of above. Eagle-eyed fans noticed, however, that in at least one of the posters, a few of the humans pictured (such as the woman with the camera and the man with the blue flag) have only four fingers, which is usually a surefire sign that something was created with generative artificial intelligence.
That is not the case with these posters, however. A Marvel spokesperson confirmed to the Wrap (as well as to io9) that AI was not used in the creation of these new Fantastic Four posters. No other details were revealed.
Some fans might be quick to dismiss the denial, especially since Marvel has used generative AI in the past (in the credits of Secret Invasion). But the studio definitely knows lying about it would be worse than actually using AI so we believe it. And even though the denial doesn’t explain why those people have four fingers, it could be any number of things, from bad photoshopping, to awkward composition, to physical amputation. Maybe two people with four fingers just so happened to be standing together!
Plus, though they may not be perfect down to the last details, the posters are undeniably lovely. The way they capture a certain tone and feel without even using the characters has us very encouraged not just for the movie, but for the rest of the marketing as we approach the July 25 release date. Here’s hoping we’re given more cool posters, more emotional trailers, and finally a movie that’s worthy of the Fantastic Four title in a way that’s never happened before. Here’s the full set.
Marvel Studios
Marvel Studios
Marvel Studios
Marvel Studios
Here’s the excellent official description of the film from Marvel, which opens July 25:
“Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces Marvel’s First Family—Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach)—as they face their most daunting challenge yet. Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.”
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
