Supergirl faces generative AI backlash as deleted video…

Warner Bros. has faced public criticism after a behind-the-scenes featurette for the DC Studios movie Supergirl appeared to reveal the use of generative AI during the film's pre-production phase. The controversy centers on a sequence featuring director Craig Gillespie, who was captured on video examining design images for the character Lobo.

What happened

In the featurette, viewers identified images on a screen that appeared to be generated by AI rather than traditional concept art. Social media users pointed to a distinctive blurry aesthetic often associated with computer-generated imagery as evidence of the practice. Following the widespread backlash across social media platforms, Warner Bros. removed the video from its YouTube channel. At the time of the incident, it remained unclear whether the footage would be removed from the film's digital release. Warner Bros. did not confirm whether the imagery was AI-generated or provide a specific reason for the video's removal when reached for comment. This incident follows a challenging period for the film, which previously faced mixed reviews and underperformed at the box office.