Spider-Man film used AI concept art
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The gist
Spider-Man: Brand New Day concept art 'Big City, Little Spider' by Scott McInnes shows AI warping. Fans and artists allege generative AI use, sparking backlash over Hollywood's AI adoption.
Background
The Spider-Man: Brand New Day artbook, released after the MCU blockbuster, contains a piece of concept art that fans suspect was generated with AI. The art, 'Big City, Little Spider,' shows strange warping and shapes in buildings and taxis, which some artists say are telltale signs of AI. This has ignited debate about AI's role in creative industries, especially as studios like Marvel and Sony increasingly use AI for concept art and placeholder assets.
How it unfolded
- Aug 14, 2026Warner Bros. pulls a Lobo featurette after AI-generated concept art is spotted, showing industry-wide scrutiny.
- Aug 16, 2026Jason Momoa and Craig Gillespie are slammed after deleted behind-the-scenes footage reveals AI-generated Lobo concept art.
- Aug 19, 2026Sony CEO Hiroki Totoki comments that AI can enhance but not replace human creativity, amid industry debate.
- Aug 21, 2026Spider-Man: Brand New Day artbook ignites backlash as Reddit user The Artbook Collector claims AI was used in 'Big City, Little Spider.'
Who’s saying what
- Public
- Fans criticize the use of AI for concept art, arguing that existing comics and fan art should have been sufficient.
- Analysts
- Analysts predict that AI-generated content will drive people to seek more authentic, human-made content.
- Official
- Sony CEO Hiroki Totoki believes AI can enhance human creativity but cannot replace it.
Still unverified
The claim that AI was used in 'Big City, Little Spider' is based on fan analysis and conversations with unnamed artists; Marvel Studios has not officially confirmed or denied the use of AI in this specific artwork.