THUNDERBOLTS* Poster Detail Leads To Speculation That Marvel Used AI To Create The Image

THUNDERBOLTS* Poster Detail Leads To Speculation That Marvel Used AI To Create The Image

Marvel Studios debuted the first trailer and poster for Thunderbolts* yesterday, and there's a lot of speculation that AI was used to create the one-sheet...

By MarkCassidy - Sep 24, 2024 12:09 PM EST
Filed Under: Thunderbolts

The first trailer and poster for Thunderbolts* were released online yesterday, and while both seemed to have been fairly well-received overall, one small detail has led to speculation that Marvel Studios' marketing team utilized AI to create the poster artwork.

The one-sheet uses a familiar concept (we've seen it on posters for Inside Out 2, The Hobbit, Sons of Anarchy, and more) of packing the main characters close together as they struggle/fight amongst themselves, but if you look at the left corner where Sentry, aka "Bob," (Lewis Pullman) is wincing due to Bucky's (Sebastian Stan) gun being pushed in his face, you'll notice that he appears to have five fingers and a thumb.

Some have speculated that the character might be supposed to have six digits on his right hand, but there's one shot of Bob holding his arms up in the trailer when the others point their guns at him, and this does not appear to be the case. This doesn't necessarily mean that AI was used on the poster (it could simply be another type of error), but it seems the most likely possibility.

The use of AI is becoming more and more widespread, despite the continued outrage that it causes among a lot of fans and those within the industry. Many feel that the advent of AI as a tool is an inevitability that people are just going to have to accept, but we don't see the majority coming around to the idea anytime soon!

Have another look at the poster and trailer below, and let us know what you think.

We're still not sure what the addition of that asterisk to the title signifies, but a recent rumor claimed to shed a little more light on the mystery. It could be considered a spoiler, so click here if you want to know more.

Marvel Studios and a crew of indie veterans who sold out present Thunderbolts*, an irreverent team-up featuring depressed assassin Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) alongside the MCU’s least anticipated band of misfits. The film also returns to the screen Marvel Cinematic Universe characters Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Red Guardian (David Harbour), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) and Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), in addition to some exciting new faces.

Jake Schreier directs Thunderbolts*with Kevin Feige producing. Louis D’Esposito, Brian Chapek, Jason Tamez and Scarlett Johansson serve as executive producers. Marvel Studios’

Thunderbolts* opens in U.S. theaters on May 2, 2025.

THUNDERBOLTS* Star Sebastian Stan Says Bucky Is More Suited To [The Team] Than He Wants To Admit
Related:

THUNDERBOLTS* Star Sebastian Stan Says Bucky Is "More Suited To [The Team] Than He Wants To Admit"

THUNDERBOLTS* Star Lewis Pullman On Whether His Character Will Be Depicted As A Hero Or Villain
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THUNDERBOLTS* Star Lewis Pullman On Whether His Character Will Be Depicted As A Hero Or Villain

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KennKathleen
KennKathleen - 9/24/2024, 12:07 PM
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Humperdink
Humperdink - 9/24/2024, 4:30 PM
@KennKathleen -

I don't, based on that example. Those are clearly four fingers and a thumb. The pinky is bent.

User Comment Image

I can't say that they didn't to SOME extent but that hand is not anatomically incorrect. As someone who works in the arts, I've seen a lot of people use AI in their art but because of this everyone online is now searching for signs of use as if they're experts.



KennKathleen
KennKathleen - 9/24/2024, 5:41 PM
@Humperdink - I get that. I literally thought it was A.I. generated.

Upon closer examination, it looks at least partially photo-shopped.

Overall it is a pretty cool shot.

I think Ghost should've grabbed Red Guardians knife hand, but it's a small gripe.

The image makes you look, stare, contemplate, and configure. It does an excellent job reminding me of the actual purpose of good artwork.

Hopefully the movie reminds me why I was so optimistic about the franchise way back when... we'll see.
mynameisn0body
mynameisn0body - 9/24/2024, 12:08 PM
who cares. it’s a poster.
Deklipz
Deklipz - 9/24/2024, 3:26 PM
@mynameisn0body - the people that pay their bills and provide for their families by doing poster and promotional artwork care.
CreateNowSlpL8r
CreateNowSlpL8r - 9/24/2024, 4:18 PM
@mynameisn0body - The artists that lost their jobs care.
Humperdink
Humperdink - 9/24/2024, 4:36 PM
@Deklipz - That hand is anatomically correct. It has four fingers and a thumb. I get that there's an AI craze these days and real discussion to be had, but this is an absolutely incorrect claim based on what I'm seeing.
Deklipz
Deklipz - 9/24/2024, 5:26 PM
@Humperdink - where did I mention the hand or comment on whether it’s AI or not?
Malatrova15
Malatrova15 - 9/24/2024, 12:09 PM
So what? Ai rules...it lets me have Kamala lewdies
sully
sully - 9/26/2024, 2:09 AM
@Malatrova15 - Amateur. Step it up to Pelosi. She's got some bags.
Malatrova15
Malatrova15 - 9/26/2024, 3:38 AM
@sully - im more of a McConell pervie...i love to see that turtle ass pounded
DOOMSPEAKS
DOOMSPEAKS - 9/24/2024, 12:10 PM
It would look great if Florence wasn’t clearly photoshopped on.
EZBeast
EZBeast - 9/24/2024, 12:19 PM
@DOOMSPEAKS - I didn't notice that until you mentioned it and now I can't unsee it...
MaxPaint
MaxPaint - 9/24/2024, 12:28 PM
@DOOMSPEAKS - I would like to see the original poster without her being inserted on.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 9/24/2024, 12:45 PM
@DOOMSPEAKS - nah bucky too
DOOMSPEAKS
DOOMSPEAKS - 9/24/2024, 12:59 PM
@McMurdo - at least Bucks coloring is accurate to everyone else. Tbh the only ones who look like they shot this together are Ghost and Alexi.
RegularPoochie
RegularPoochie - 9/24/2024, 2:37 PM
@DOOMSPEAKS - they all are photoshopped in there, that's why the extra finge, which is a rookie mistake. Not the first time that happens in a Marvel, or DC posters, lol
RegularPoochie
RegularPoochie - 9/24/2024, 2:40 PM
@McMurdo - good eye my friend, props for that.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 9/24/2024, 3:19 PM
@DOOMSPEAKS - She's the only one that doesn't look like a complete AI zombie.
Deklipz
Deklipz - 9/24/2024, 3:27 PM
@DOOMSPEAKS - it’s all AI
KennKathleen
KennKathleen - 9/24/2024, 5:42 PM
@DOOMSPEAKS - okay, so I'm not crazy.
bobevanz
bobevanz - 9/24/2024, 12:11 PM
Nobody cared when they photoshopped posters to hell and back with floating heads, now all of a sudden it's a big deal. AI is only going to grow from here, it's the next industry revolution. Making bank on the stock market off of chip stocks and AI stocks. 5 years from now it'll be massive
CreateNowSlpL8r
CreateNowSlpL8r - 9/24/2024, 4:19 PM
@bobevanz - Its a big deal because this was an artists job. Also, AI was trained by stealing artists works. Thats how it learned.
Nightwing1015
Nightwing1015 - 9/24/2024, 5:15 PM
@CreateNowSlpL8r - That same artist probably still worked on this (touch it up, etc.) and just used the AI as a generative tool
CreateNowSlpL8r
CreateNowSlpL8r - 9/24/2024, 11:12 PM
@Nightwing1015 - There are some artists who wont even support apps that have AI feature. Why I use Procreate. That flat out said they aren't doing AI.

Again, you want to remove a background or something? Ok fine. The only way it can generate anything new is because it was trained on stolen art.
Nightwing1015
Nightwing1015 - 9/25/2024, 4:21 AM
@CreateNowSlpL8r - many artists are against AI and many are in favour of using it as a tool to help them, there’s a diverse range of opinions

You don’t know that model was trained on stolen art - these massive companies have huge catalogues of material they can train them on without infringing on other copyrighted material
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 9/24/2024, 12:12 PM
Couldn't imagine caring about AI used to make a frickin poster. At least it doesn't look as awkward as the Secret Invasion credits.
PatientXero
PatientXero - 9/24/2024, 12:13 PM
So we’re all just gonna accept Skynet?
MaxPaint
MaxPaint - 9/24/2024, 12:34 PM
@PatientXero - We're way beyond that. There's AI even in your cup of coffee.
DudeGuy
DudeGuy - 9/24/2024, 1:38 PM
@PatientXero -
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User Comment Image
PatientXero
PatientXero - 9/24/2024, 1:39 PM
@DudeGuy - The end is nigh. Hopefully AI can speed it up a bit.
harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 9/24/2024, 5:14 PM
@PatientXero - ass long ass I get my phuckbot5000 then it's all good.
FireandBlood
FireandBlood - 9/24/2024, 12:15 PM
Well, the AI cooked 🤷‍♂️
ogrodafloresta
ogrodafloresta - 9/24/2024, 12:17 PM
Speculating if AI was used on this poster is the least of its problems...
mountainman
mountainman - 9/24/2024, 12:18 PM
How is AI use in posters any worse than photoshop? Let’s focus on the actually bad uses of this technology and not demonize it overall. A lot of promotional material for movies has been “fake” for decades.
SATW42
SATW42 - 9/24/2024, 12:45 PM
@mountainman - @JuanRGuijarro I dare you to call mountainman a "marveltard"

Please, I can use the entertainment today.
mountainman
mountainman - 9/24/2024, 12:51 PM
@SATW42 - I see what you did here, and I like it!
Polaris
Polaris - 9/24/2024, 12:54 PM
@mountainman - Bad photoshop isn't based on copyrighted material tho.
YouCray04
YouCray04 - 9/24/2024, 1:24 PM
@mountainman - It's worse for two main reasons:

1. To create, let's say, a digital comic cover in Photoshop, knowing how to use Photoshop alone is not enough. You must have a working knowledge of colour theory, perspective, drafting techniques, anatomy, rendering techniques, etc. You must also have a steady hand, creativity, and an eye for aesthetically pleasing image compositions and design. In other words, to make great art in Photoshop you must be a great artist. You don't need any of that to use AI. This might seem great from a technological standpoint, after all, technology is about making our lives easier and more efficient, but AI doesn't just make it easier, it completely strips away the need for artistry. So when companies choose to hire AI artists over legitimate artists it is a big F-U to an entire industry full of hard working people who have dedicated their lives to honing their craft, and without whom none of your favourite comics, games, movies, would exist.

2. AI art superimposes existing images together. Most of the time this is without the consent of the creator. This is not the same as an artist referencing another artist. The original images are literally embedded into the AI generated art. You just can't tell most of the time because they're meshed together with do many other images. It's actually really impressive, technology-wise, but it's the complete antithesis of art.

Having said that, I don't actually think this poster was AI generated. There may have been some generative fill used, but I think its mostly just bad Photoshop.
mountainman
mountainman - 9/24/2024, 1:49 PM
@YouCray04 - I guess it depends on implementation. The technology is there and the genie isn’t going back in the bottle.

I am no graphic designer but I have used AI to help me parse large spreadsheets of data or to summarize extremely long documents. Data Analysts may claim that I am taking away their work by using AI rather than their thorough knowledge of pivot tables and databases. I disagree. I get my answers and work done faster by doing the work myself with the aid of technology rather than reaching out to another team and waiting for them to get back to me.

Regarding graphic design, I have seen many purists talk back about Canva. Sure photoshop and experience can produce technically better results, but if the cheaper and easier tool gives me good enough, why wouldn’t I do that?

If studios fire all graphic designers and only use AI, this will certainly be a concern. But if this poster did have AI involved, very likely that was in partnership with an actual human with a graphic design background to make.
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