Thunderbolts Poster Sparks Controversy: Marvel Studios’ recent promotional poster for Thunderbolts has sparked a heated discussion among fans, with many speculating whether the poster was created using artificial intelligence (AI). The poster has drawn attention due to a noticeable error—a sixth finger on the hand of Sentry, a character in the movie. This minor mistake has led fans to criticize Marvel for potentially using AI technology in the poster’s creation.
Fans Criticize Marvel for Alleged AI Use
AI technology has become increasingly prevalent in the film industry, with major studios like Lionsgate and others integrating it into trailers and post-production work. For example, Megalopolis and Late Night With the Devil utilized AI in their final cuts, drawing both admiration and criticism. Similarly, Marvel fans quickly took to social media to point out what they believed to be an AI-generated error in the Thunderbolts poster.
The focus of the criticism lies in the poster’s depiction of Sentry, positioned at the bottom left, where he is shown with six fingers. This error, first highlighted by fans on X (formerly Twitter), led to accusations of sloppy AI editing. One fan sarcastically posted, “GG Marvel is low effort, but this is a serious glitch.” Another commented humorously, “Why the hell does Bob [Sentry] have six fingers?” Many were disappointed, voicing concerns that AI might be replacing traditional artists and photographers in Hollywood.
Clarification on the AI Debate
Despite the outrage, it has been clarified that the extra finger was not the result of AI but rather a tight editing job. According to sources, the mistake occurred due to the close positioning of the characters in the poster, where Sentry’s pinky gave the illusion of a sixth finger. A fan on X explained that the hand was squished into the frame, leading to the confusion, and Marvel later confirmed this, addressing the issue.
Though the Thunderbolts poster did not use AI for its creation, Marvel Studios has employed AI technology before. Notably, the studio used AI-generated images for the opening credits of Secret Invasion, opting for AI-rendered visuals like city skylines and outer space scenes instead of traditional photos of cast members such as Samuel L. Jackson, Olivia Coleman, and Emilia Clarke.
FAQ
Q1. Why is Marvel being discussed in relation to AI?
A1. The controversy arose when fans speculated that the promotional poster for Thunderbolts was created using AI, after noticing a mistake involving an extra finger on one of the characters.
Q2. What mistake did Marvel fans notice in the Thunderbolts poster?
A2. Fans pointed out that the character Sentry in the poster appeared to have six fingers, which they believed was a result of AI editing.
