AceShowbiz - Marvel has recently found itself in the center of a whirlwind of controversy following the release of promotional posters for its upcoming film, "The Fantastic Four: First Steps." The uproar began when eagle-eyed fans noticed peculiar inconsistencies within the posters. The anomalies led many to suspect that AI generated the promotional material.

Fans social media platforms like X and Bluesky specifically pointed out one poster in which a group of 20th-century onlookers wave at the Fantastic Four. This image prominently features repeated faces and missing fingers.

In another poster featuring a girl holding a Thing action figure has women with seemingly missing leg in the background.

Responding to these allegations, Marvel/Disney spokespersons have unequivocally denied the use of generative AI in creating these posters. "AI was not used in the creation of these posters," a spokesperson told IndieWire.

Yet, no additional information was provided to clear up why these abnormalities were present, or if any employment roles were affected.

This isn't Marvel's first brush with AI controversy. The studio previously employed generative AI for the opening title sequence of its Disney+ series "Secret Invasion," a decision that aimed to complement the shape-shifting narrative of the show's Skrull characters.

This past usage of AI seems to have done little to endear the studio to the AI-wary public. Hollywood remains on edge about the implications of AI on traditional film-making roles and creative authenticity.

Adding to the conversation, the recent backlash against the Oscar-nominated film "The Brutalist" highlights the razor-thin line between AI enhancement and artistic integrity.

The film's editor David Jancso revealed that AI tools were utilized to tweak the Hungarian dialogue spoken by the film's stars, Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones. Jancso also claimed he had played a significant part in enhancing the actors' performances, "Most of their Hungarian dialogue has a part of me talking in there."

Director Brady Corbet quickly defended the film, explaining that only the Hungarian portions were manually edited. "Adrien [Brody] and Felicity [Jones]' performances are completely their own," he said.

"The Fantastic Four: First Steps," directed by Matt Shakman and starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, is set to release in theaters on July 25 as part of Marvel Phase 6. Whether or not these controversies affect its reception remains to be seen, but it's clear that the intersection of AI and creativity will continue to be a hotly debated topic.