Spider-Man: Brand New Day Under Fire For Alleged AI Usage In Concept Art For $2 Billion Hit

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Under Fire For Alleged AI Usage In Concept Art For $2 Billion Hit

A piece of concept art in Spider-Man: Brand New Day's "Art of" book has led to widespread backlash after allegations that at least one artist who worked on the film may have used AI in their work.

By JoshWilding - Aug 21, 2026 01:08 PM EST

Spider-Man: Brand New Day has received plenty of praise since opening in theaters last month, but the movie is now coming under fire after the recently released "Art of" book seemed to reveal that AI was used in concept art of New York City.

To preface this, it's important to note that this is only apparent in one piece—"Big City, Little Spider"—in the entire book, which features hundreds of pieces of artwork. As you'll see below, there are several alleged signs of generative AI, including remnants of a taxi in the middle of the road, a sign that reads "DEII" instead of "DELI," and fire escape steps that all seem to merge into one.

However, many artists—and someone who claims to have worked on the book—have pointed out that this could be a result of Photoshop's Autofill tool, giving the impression of AI when that's not actually the case. Marvel Studios has not commented on these allegations of AI usage.

The artist in question (we won't name them here, as it's important to note that this isn't confirmed) previously worked on Morbius, Masters of the Universe, and Barbie, and contributed to Marvel Studios movies, The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Guardians of the Galaxy.

At this point, it's arguably naive to think that AI isn't being used in big-budget movies to save money and speed up production. The Russo Brothers, who are behind the camera for Avengers: Doomsday, have been asked about the emerging technology, with Anthony saying, "We have to approach AI the same way we approach all technological innovations."

"It’s potentially a valuable tool, but it’s the kind of tool that artists always have to remain in control of," he continued, "but there’s going to be some valuable role in the creative process and the filmmaking process."

In Spider-Man: Brand New Day, it's a Brand New Day for Peter Parker. Fighting crime full-time as Spider-Man in a world that doesn’t remember him—and the pressure of seeing his old friends move on without him—sparks a change in Peter he may not have the power to control.

But that transformation might also be the only thing that can stop a shocking new threat to the city and those he loves - a powerful villain no one can even see. The world may have forgotten Peter Parker, but he hasn’t forgotten them.

In our review, we concluded by saying, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day is everything fans could want. Emotional, hilarious, and heartfelt, it’s an action-packed love letter to the comics and one of Spidey’s best big-screen adventures. Spider-Man has never been more amazing."

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is now playing in theaters.

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About The Author:
JoshWilding
Member Since 3/13/2009
A lifelong comic book fan who grew up on Spider-Man: The Animated Series in the '90s, Josh Wilding has been contributing to ComicBookMovie.com since 2009.

While he's also written for websites like Batman-News, HeyUGuys, and WhatCulture, Josh is CBM's Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic and the site's #1 contributor with nearly two decades of experience covering film and TV news (including interviews with Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Gary Oldman, Halle Berry, Jon Bernthal, Tom Welling, and hundreds more).

Based in the UK with his wife, Josh is also an avid WWE and Formula 1 fan and writes about those passions on CBM's sister sites, TheRingReport.com and FullThrottleHQ.com. Favourite superhero? Spider-Man. Favourite pro wrestler? CM Punk. Favourite F1 driver? Max Verstappen.
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WEAPONXOXOXO
WEAPONXOXOXO - 8/21/2026, 1:24 PM
User Comment Image
dragon316
dragon316 - 8/21/2026, 3:16 PM
@WEAPONXOXOXO - if it was dc movie people make deal out of it since it’s marvel movie doing well fans like it forget it
WEAPONXOXOXO
WEAPONXOXOXO - 8/21/2026, 3:29 PM
@dragon316 - No idea. I think Josh needs to pay the rent so he's pulling shit out of his ass for articles.
alten2345
alten2345 - 8/21/2026, 7:03 PM
@WEAPONXOXOXO - exactly. They could make a completely AI movie and if it entertains me that’s fantastic. I don’t care about actors losing their livelihoods.🤷
WEAPONXOXOXO
WEAPONXOXOXO - 8/22/2026, 6:57 PM
@alten2345 - "Spider-Man: Brand New Day has received plenty of praise since opening in theaters last month, but the movie is now coming under fire after the recently released "Art of" book seemed to reveal that AI was used in concept art of New York City."
"The artist in question (we won't name them here, as it's important to note that this isn't confirmed) previously worked on Morbius, Masters of the Universe, and Barbie, and contributed to Marvel Studios movies, The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Guardians of the Galaxy."



"Art of" book
this article is about an art book. An artist might have or not used AI.

artist
art book.
Where is the word actor(s) being mentioned.
bobevanz
bobevanz - 8/21/2026, 1:26 PM
I'm sure everyone who cared about the usage in Supergirl concept art will care about it being used in Brand New Day
User Comment Image
PS118
PS118 - 8/21/2026, 2:33 PM
@bobevanz -

Right
alten2345
alten2345 - 8/21/2026, 7:06 PM
@bobevanz - they both can for all I care. If it’s entertaining, screw the actors 🤷
Gambito
Gambito - 8/21/2026, 1:28 PM
Just get over it, it’s not gonna stop anytime soon
JBinTX
JBinTX - 8/21/2026, 1:30 PM
Who in the HELL CARES?!?! What a freaking complete waste of your time to even report something like this. No one gives a shit.
HashTagSwagg
HashTagSwagg - 8/21/2026, 1:33 PM
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MikeyL
MikeyL - 8/21/2026, 1:38 PM
The issue is less that AI was used and more they have put it in an Art Of book. If somebody didn’t actually create the art, it should not be in such an expensive book
BackwardGalaxy
BackwardGalaxy - 8/21/2026, 1:45 PM
@MikeyL - The market sets the price.
NitroBlastoid12
NitroBlastoid12 - 8/21/2026, 2:08 PM
@MikeyL - I don't care if its made by a turt on a stick , a human or a rock if it looks good it looks good and ill buy it. Also this theory thats its stolen art is also nonsense , everything you do in life is based on the data you collected including when you decide to draw a Dragon so theres that.
krayzeman
krayzeman - 8/21/2026, 2:39 PM
@NitroBlastoid12 - say it louder for the turkeys in the back who didnt here you , please!!!
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 8/21/2026, 3:28 PM
@MikeyL - I just bought the new Avengers: Time Runs Out with an intro by Russos and they used AI too. I was mildly pissed off for half a minute and then I started reading the book and felt immediately better.

True story.
TheRationalNerd
TheRationalNerd - 8/21/2026, 1:40 PM
It's "concept" art. Who gives a ish?
Matchesz
Matchesz - 8/21/2026, 1:44 PM
@TheRationalNerd - The concept artist without a job.
BackwardGalaxy
BackwardGalaxy - 8/21/2026, 1:46 PM
@Matchesz - they took our jerbs!
TheRationalNerd
TheRationalNerd - 8/21/2026, 2:58 PM
@Matchesz - what if the concept artist is using the a.i. to bring his/her ideas to reality though? 🤔
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 8/21/2026, 3:30 PM
@TheRationalNerd - Then they should be fired and replaced with AI.
TheRationalNerd
TheRationalNerd - 8/21/2026, 3:47 PM
@ObserverIO - hey I'm not pocket watching. Lol
Matchesz
Matchesz - 8/22/2026, 1:21 AM
@BackwardGalaxy - I miss having 15 episode south park seasons
LordCanterbury
LordCanterbury - 8/22/2026, 9:05 AM
@Matchesz - it was 1 piece out of hundreds. Nobody lost their job. They don’t hire 1 concept artist per piece required.
LordCanterbury
LordCanterbury - 8/22/2026, 9:20 AM
@TheRationalNerd - bingo. Do we actually know that Concept Artists don’t use AI to rapidly spitball different ideas before actually drawing the ones they think work? I imagine they could churn out a LOT more quality ideas if they weren’t wasting time drawing a bunch they ultimately decide they don’t want to present.

Why waste time on concepts you won’t think will work once you see it in front of you? I think everyone has had ideas that seem great in your head, but you realize were lacking once executed.
TheWalkingCuban
TheWalkingCuban - 8/21/2026, 1:52 PM
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antirock
antirock - 8/21/2026, 1:53 PM
If there ever was a reasonable use case for AI in film, it's this. The outrage of AI is so performative, who actually gives a shit.
LordCanterbury
LordCanterbury - 8/22/2026, 9:10 AM
@antirock - It’s frickin ridiculous. If they said an entire scene in the movie was AI and actors images were used without consent and without pay - ok. I can definitely see that as a problem.

1 lone piece of AI concept art in a book with hundreds of pieces. Nobody lost their job here. People were paid. No animals or elderly people were beaten with sticks. It’s all going to be ok.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 8/21/2026, 2:01 PM
Um.....
So?
SheepishOne
SheepishOne - 8/21/2026, 2:02 PM
I don’t really like this gravitation towards a “no AI assistance at all” attitude, especially when used for conceptual purposes. I think that’s probably the best use case for AI in the art world. Nobody cares what the taxis and signs look like in the background, because they (mostly) actually film those rather than digitally produce them.

I think it’s cool to see it, even in an art book like this, because I can see exactly what was used for inspiration for the final product.

And like others have mentioned, it’s probably an autofill that was done on the background after the original piece was produced.

Just my two cents. I know AI = bad and all, but this one makes sense to me.
MisterBones
MisterBones - 8/21/2026, 2:37 PM
AI inspiration needed for one of, if not, the most PHOTOGRAPHED CITY ON EARTH

Were cooked. Studios won’t stop soon though.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 8/21/2026, 3:32 PM
@MisterBones - But...AI outrage is wrong. Or at least that's what the AI algorithms are slowly manipulating me into thinking.
Fogs
Fogs - 8/21/2026, 2:42 PM
I find it so funny... People really trying to stop the technology train with their hands.
IronSpider101
IronSpider101 - 8/21/2026, 2:45 PM
Cringe takes from people with horrible taste. This doesn't hurt my enjoyment of the movie; it doesn't matter holistically with the quality of the movie. That being said, it's hacky as [frick] by whichever artist did it and it should very much be frowned upon. That's just the way it is.
dragon316
dragon316 - 8/21/2026, 3:19 PM
@IronSpider101 - i didn’t have yet feel that emotion in life I angry that’s it if it was dc movie fans be attacking it king time since it’s marvel fans movie like they don’t care yes I hate ai being used people hate ai but they keep using crappy cellphones every day
Lucasberg
Lucasberg - 8/21/2026, 3:09 PM
snore
Nomis929
Nomis929 - 8/21/2026, 3:30 PM
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ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 8/21/2026, 3:35 PM
cbms are an industry. Gone are the days of Donner, Burton, Nolan, Raimi and Del Toro.
cheeseburger
cheeseburger - 8/21/2026, 3:44 PM
Seriously who cares, does it affect the overall story? no. Will anyone notice the difference? No so what’s the big deal. CGI Ai… it’s all the same
ogrodafloresta
ogrodafloresta - 8/21/2026, 5:15 PM
Is anyone here up to date with the latest versions (yes, plural) of Photoshop? Adobe is stuffing it with more and more AI features, specially Generative Fill. So, even if it was an actual concept artist who came up with this, it will probably have some kind of AI enhancement or whatever. This and the Supergirl backlash is such a non-story. This "reports" are becoming more and more ridiculous.
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