The first official poster for Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts* has caused a stir, as some believe artificial intelligence has been used, specifically on Lewis Pullman's "Bob", but this isn't the case. First announced by Marvel boss Kevin Feige in 2022, Thunderbolts* is slowly becoming one of the most anticipated projects in the MCU. The first teaser trailer for Thunderbolts* revealed that Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova will have a major role in the Phase 5 movie, but Top Gun: Maverick's Lewis Pullman will be playing someone even more powerful.

As well as focusing on several returning antiheroes and reformed villains, Thunderbolts* will also introduce new superpowered characters to the MCU. One of these will be portrayed by Lewis Pullman. While Pullman's character has only ever been referred to as "Bob", it has been all but confirmed that he is, in fact, Robert Reynolds, a.k.a. Sentry. Sentry is an incredibly powerful hero in Marvel Comics, so his live-action debut is very exciting, but his introduction to the MCU has already been the subject of some unnecessary and unfounded controversy.

The Thunderbolts* Poster's Six-Fingered Sentry "Controversy" Explained

Some Think Lewis Pullman Looks Like He Has Six Fingers In The Thunderbolts* Poster

Sentry and Yelena Belova in the poster for Thunderbolts*

In conjunction with the release of the first teaser trailer for Thunderbolts* on September 23, core line-up of the Thunderbolts team, Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, Ghost, Bucky Barnes, US Agent and Taskmaster, in a brawl, with "Bob" crammed in the corner. However, the crop of this poster has caused a stir, as some have speculated whether AI was used to create the image, as it could be argued that "Bob" looks like he has six fingers.

Marvel Studios caused a stir in 2023 after revealing that AI had been used to generate some of the images for Secret Invasion's opening credits. Controversies surrounding the use of AI by Marvel are confusing, especially when AI can be used as a tool to and back-up actual human work. Nevertheless, some fans took to social media to complain about Sentry's apparent sixth finger, seemingly without taking the time to look closer and surmise that he actually only has five.

No, "Bob" Doesn't Have Six Fingers

Thunderbolts*' AI Controversy Has Stemmed From A Simple Visual Trick

The original crop of Thunderbolts*' poster which was released by Marvel Studios includes a visual trick that makes it briefly look as though Lewis Pullman's "Bob" has six fingers. In fact, his fingers are simply bent in such a way that his index finger looks slightly thicker than the rest, which makes it seem as though this is two fingers spliced together in such a way that AI usually produces. Subsequent releases of the poster, including that shared by Discussing Film, have cropped it tighter, omitting this issue completely, while Oppais' Vault perfectly explains this trick.

It's a shame that Lewis Pullman's first official appearance as one of the MCU's most exciting characters has already been shrouded in undue controversy. In recent years, supposed "fans" of the MCU have criticized Marvel Studios much more vigorously than in previous years, which has, in part, contributed to some of the lowest-performing MCU installments, including Thor: Love and Thunder, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and The Marvels. Hopefully Thunderbolts* doesn't suffer because of this unnecessary six-fingered confusion.

What The Thunderbolts* Poster Is Based On

Thunderbolts*' Poster Takes Inspiration From Sons Of Anarchy

As pointed out by Thunderbolts team has been imagined fighting each other in the new MCU poster. It makes sense that Sons of Anarchy would be parodied by Thunderbolts*, given the similar themes of both projects.

Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova and Sentry in the MCU's Thunderbolts

I Think I've Worked Out Another Marvel Hero ing The MCU's Thunderbolts Team (Not Sentry)

Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts* will bring together several antiheroes from the MCU's past, but I think a new questionable hero will also be introduced.

Posts

In Sons of Anarchy, Charlie Hunnam's Jax begins to question his position as the President of the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, and begins to question himself. These themes reflect Yelena Belova's comments in the first trailer for Thunderbolts*, as she has begun to question her purpose after being freed from the Red Room, the loss of her sister, and her conversation with Hawkeye. In the same way that WandaVision and Agatha All Along parodied iconic movies and TV shows from history, Thunderbolts* seems to have done the same, and it makes the movie even more exciting.