Summary
UPDATE: The Marvel India Twitter and Instagram pages have since deleted the post. Redditors on theMarvelStudiosSpoilerssub-Reddit claim the poster was fan art shared by the accounts, though an artist did not appear to be credited.
The original story follows.
A newDeadpool 3poster from Marvel Studios has stirred up controversy as fans call out the graphic for using artificial intelligence despite heavy criticism leveled at the company after its first recorded use of AI in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
WithDeadpool 3being the MCU’s only 2024 movie release, it was expected that the company would feature the character in their promotional material for Valentine’s Day, leading to no surprise when a newDeadpool3poster was released to commemorate the occasion. However, the poster would invite much more controversy than seasonal love for the studio behind it.
Similar to howMarvel Studios’Secret Invasionused AI for the intro,theDeadpool 3promo poster seems to have used a tool best left in the toolbox. At first glance, the image posted byMarvel Indiaof Deadpool and Wolverine bringing hands together to form a heart on the Valentine’s Day post is on theme and cute. However, eagle-eyed fans were quick to spot several tells that the image was, in fact, AI-generated content. Scrutiny byThe Streamr, which laid out how they verified the social media account, reveals several glaring signs that the graphic wasn’t made by a human artist, including massive errors like Wolverine’s gloves being entirely incorrect and the detailing on Deadpool’s hands not matching either. Wolverine’s claws also indicate that something is amiss, as the claws look unnaturally warped and weirdly placed, a mistake that a flesh and blood artist would have trouble making on purpose, let alone as an oversight.
While fans have used Artificial Intelligence for minor amusement, likerecasting Marvel heroes as DC characters with AI, the use of the technology by big companies like Marvel Studios has been controversial even at the best of times and downright frowned on recently. AfterSecret Invasion’s opening sequence, fans likely thought the message had gone across loud and clear. However, the use of AI in an instance where any number of real artists could have been hired to do the job infinitely better and with no ethical qualms shows that the company still sees some leeway to be had on the matter.
Despite this little hiccup on the publicity front,Deadpool 3is still well on track to being one of2024’s most highly anticipated sequel projects, and it will weather the storm more easily thanSecret Invasiondid because the errant graphic won’t appear in the film itself. However, what Marvel Studios might do to address the backlash beyond ignoring the callout remains to be seen.
Deadpool 3is set for theatrical release on Jul 05, 2025.
Deadpool
Deadpool is a franchise focused on the Marvel antihero Deadpool, the cheeky red masked mutant who is famous for often breaking the fourth wall. Originally a terminally ill cancer patient, Deadpool was given a serum that activated a gene in his body to heal his illness. This left him severely disfigured, hence his trademark outfit.
