As fans wait for the official Avengers: Doomsday trailer to be released following its recent closed-door showing at CinemaCon, a wave of deceptive content is taking over social media. Using descriptions of the real footage, creators are using generative AI to fabricate "leaked" footage that mimics the look of an unauthorized recording.
The Rise of Fake Avengers: Doomsday Trailer Clips
These clips feature high-drama moments designed to trick the eye and generate engagement. The AI-generated footage often includes:
- A battle between Gambit and Shang-Chi.
- An epic confrontation between Thor and Doctor Doom.
- A dramatic appearance by Steve Rogers at the end of a sequence.
The trailers are intentionally low quality, utilizing a "handheld" effect to suggest they were filmed surreptitiously at CinemaCon itself. They even include fake audience cheers, most notably when Steve Rogers proves himself worthy of Mjölnir once again.
X/Twitter account @lordsambrah shared several clips that garnered millions of views. While acknowledging the content may be artificial, they noted: “I enjoy reposting anything related to Avengers: Doomsday. Yes, most of it is likely AI-generated from what I’ve seen, but it’s filling the void created by the lack of official content. That said, I’ll be more disciplined about vetting authenticity going forward.”
The Source of the Misinformation
The source of these clips appears to be a YouTube channel called Yellow Minutes, which has a history of producing fake AI videos. The channel frequently uses deceptive titles such as “FULL Avengers: Doomsday Trailer LEAKED” and “FULL Spider-Man Brand New Day clips LEAKED.”
Reaction to the footage is split between criticism and praise. One YouTube commenter noted, “Even though this is AI, this is essentially what the trailer is going to look like. You even nailed Dr. Doom stopping storm breaker with 2 fingers.”
The Growing Problem with Generative AI
This trend isn't isolated to Marvel. Generative AI tools have become increasingly accessible, leading to widespread deepfake issues across the internet. Physicist Brian Cox has publicly complained about YouTube accounts using AI to create "nonsense" deepfakes of him regarding comet 3I/ATLAS.
Similarly, Keanu Reeves has criticized AI-generated clones selling products without his permission, stating "it's not a lot of fun." It was reported in July last year that Reeves pays a company several thousand dollars a month to help remove such imitators from platforms like TikTok and Meta.
The gaming industry is also seeing similar issues; GTA 6 has suffered from a surge of misleading images and videos as fans anxiously await Trailer 3.
The Lack of Platform Regulation
Despite pressure on Google and YouTube to curb deceptive content, the tide shows no sign of receding. While YouTube claims to have “specific policies that guide how we treat AI content, including disclosure requirements and labelling,” these rules are noticeably absent from channels like Yellow Minutes.
For now, Marvel fans remain in a state of uncertainty, still waiting for the official Avengers: Doomsday trailer release, which is now two weeks past its CinemaCon debut.
