Marvel has firmly denied using artificial intelligence to create the promotional posters for their upcoming film, *The Fantastic Four: First Steps*, following fan speculation ignited by 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 captivating posters shared across social media platforms.

One particular poster caught the attention of fans due to a man depicted holding a large Fantastic Four flag who seems to be missing a finger. This image, shown below, led to widespread discussions on social media, with many fans suggesting that the use of generative AI might explain the anomalies observed in the poster, such as duplicated faces, misaligned gazes, and disproportionately sized limbs.

Despite these observations, a spokesperson from Disney/Marvel confirmed to IGN that no AI was used in the creation of these posters, hinting at another explanation for the noticeable errors. Speculation around the four-fingered man includes the possibility that his missing finger is obscured behind the flagpole, though this theory seems unlikely given the angles and sizes involved. Alternatively, some believe the issue might stem from a simple mistake during the post-production process, such as an oversight in Photoshop.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps - Trailer 1 Stills

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Disney/Marvel has yet to offer a direct explanation for the four-fingered man, fueling further speculation among fans. Theories range from a simple error in post-production to the possibility that the missing finger was present in the original image but was inadvertently removed without adjusting the rest of the hand. The repeated faces in the poster, another point of contention, might result from common digital techniques used to populate background crowds rather than AI-generated imagery.

The controversy surrounding the poster has sparked a broader conversation about the use of AI in film marketing, leading to increased scrutiny of future promotional materials for *The Fantastic Four: First Steps*. As anticipation builds, fans can look forward to more content, including detailed features on key characters like Galactus and Doctor Doom.