Was AI Technology Employed in the Marvel Thunderbolts Poster? Unpacking the Controversy

Was AI Technology Employed in the Marvel Thunderbolts Poster? Unpacking the Controversy

A small detail on the newly released Thunderbolts poster has ignited speculation among fans that Marvel used AI technology in its creation. However, is this assumption justified or merely a misunderstanding?

It’s increasingly common for film studios to harness AI in their production processes, which has sparked some controversy among fans. For instance, Lionsgate briefly utilized AI in the trailer for Megalopolis before retracting it, while Late Night With the Devil incorporated AI technology directly into its final edit.

Now, it appears that Marvel may have joined the ranks of these studios, as fans identified an unusual error in the recent Thunderbolts poster.

But was this peculiar detail just a misstep, or did Marvel truly employ AI for the cast image? Here’s what we know.

Fans Notice Extra Finger in Thunderbolts Poster

Following the release of the Thunderbolts poster on September 23, eagle-eyed fans observed an extra finger on Sentry’s hand.

Sentry is positioned on the bottom left of the promotional image, raising his hand, and upon closer inspection, it seems he has six fingers instead of the usual five.

Marvel enthusiasts were quick to highlight the blunder, with one user posting on X/Twitter, “Thunderbolts movie poster with AI fake hand. GG Marvel we know you’re low effort but holy sh*t.”

Another user commented, “Ugh… AI art fail… Bob having six fingers on his right hand is unacceptable… c’mon. @Marvel Do Better!”

A third fan wrote, “Marvel using AI for their posters cause why the hell does Bob have six fingers????”

Many fans expressed disappointment regarding the alleged use of AI, concerned that it could undermine job opportunities for artists and photographers. So, did the poster actually incorporate AI technology?

Did Marvel Use AI for the Thunderbolts Cast Image?

No, Marvel did not employ AI for the Thunderbolts poster; the “sixth finger” was the result of tight framing during editing.

The cast is notably compact in the image; what viewers interpreted as a sixth finger on Sentry’s hand is merely part of his pinky, which got cut off in the frame due to the crowded arrangement of characters.

One Marvel fan even illustrated how Sentry’s hand would appear without the framing issue, effectively putting an end to the extra finger debate.

While numerous fans fell for the AI rumor, their suspicions are partially understandable given Marvel’s prior admission of using AI in various projects.

Marvel’s History of AI Usage Explained

Marvel Studios did utilize AI technology for the opening credits of the miniseries Secret Invasion.

Instead of presenting traditional photos or clips featuring cast members like Samuel L. Jackson, Olivia Coleman, or Emilia Clarke, the credits featured AI generated imagery of city skylines, alien vessels, outer space, and more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqnBJHU7si4

Secret Invasion’s director and executive producer, Ali Selim, confirmed the use of AI for the credits, stating to Polygon, “When we reached out to the AI vendors, that was part of it — it just came right out of the shape-shifting, Skrull world identity, you know? Who did this? Who is this?

“We would discuss concepts and themes, and then the computer would generate images based on our input, which we could tweak using descriptive words.”

Despite the inclusion of AI technology in the Marvel series, Method Studios, the firm behind the AI tool, issued a statement to The Hollywood Reporter asserting, “no artists’ jobs were compromised through the use of these new tools; rather, they enhanced and supported our creative teams.”

The Thunderbolts film is set to premiere on May 2, 2025.

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