Supergirl Movie Faces Generative AI Backlash After Deleted Video Shows Alleged AI Concept Art

Supergirl faces generative AI backlash as deleted video seems to show use in pre-production on the DC movie

Warner Bros. have pulled the new featurette amidst the backlash Supergirl has come under fire after a new video appeared to show the filmmakers using generative AI during pre-production on the DC Studios movie. In a behind-the-scenes featurette, director Craig Gillespie can be seen looking at a screen with images of Lobo's design on it. However, instead of being traditional concept art, many commenters have suggested these images seem to be generative AI. These allegations have been shared widely across social media too, with viewers pointing out the distinctive blurry look that computer-generated images have. Following the backlash, Warner Bros. removed the video from YouTube. It's not currently clear whether the featurette will also be taken off the digital release of the superhero movie too. GamesRadar+ has reached out to Warner Bros. for comment on whether the imagery was AI-generated and why the video was removed. Supergirl underperformed at the box office when it was released earlier this year, making less that Joker 2 and Morbius. It also landed to some pretty mixed reviews, earning just a 52% Rotten Tomatoes score. GamesRadar+ gave the movie 3.5 stars, writing in our Supergirl review that it's "Superman's messier younger cousin in every way". Our reviewer added: "Supergirl earns its Guardians of the Galaxy and Mad Max comparisons with a surprisingly dark (and sometimes downright gross) space adventure about revenge and finding your home." Despite her mixed arrival, Kara Zor-El will be returning in the upcoming Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow, which is due out next year. Before that, next up in the DCU is Lanterns, which starts airing on HBO Max on Sunday, August 15. For more, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and shows as well as our breakdown of how to watch the DC movies in order.

Supergirl suspected of using generative AI concept art as DC takes new behind-the-scenes video offline

It's believed that genAI was used to create concept art of Lobo. Despite a lot of moviegoers and movie creators being against it, generative AI is forcing its way into art all over the place. Whether it's placeholder voices and background art in a video game, or concept art being used to depict a famous comic book character, generative AI is rearing its ugly, glossy head more than ever before, and now DC's Supergirl is being suspected of using the technology. In a now-deleted behind-the-scenes video, we see crew members looking over at a tablet which shows some concept art of Jason Momoa's character Lobo in Supergirl. This concept art has been picked up and plastered all over the internet, with many believing that generative AI was used to create the concept piece. This hasn't been confirmed by DC or Warner Bros., but the video being taken down has been seen as a sign of guilt by some. Nothing has been made official yet, but should the AI controversy prove true, this is unfortunately one more thing against Supergirl's favour, following the film failing to drum up much box office success.

'They Got Caught in 4K' -- Supergirl Featurette Wiped From YouTube After Fans Spot Director Using Alleged AI Concept Art for Lobo

A featurette from Warner Bros. showed what appeared to be AI-generated concept art for Lobo's design in Supergirl, something that sparked backlash among fans and seemingly resulted in the video being wiped from YouTube. Jason Momoa returned to the DCU as Lobo, decked out in white bodypaint, black leather, and a sinister grin befitting the bounty hunter. A featurette diving into Momoa's performance was uploaded to YouTube after the film's release in summer 2026, showing Supergirl director Craig Gillespie speaking to the actor while swiping through concept art on a laptop -- artwork that seemed to be AI generated. While only a few images of Lobo's early look were shown at a distance, it's impossible to ignore their resemblance to AI-generated content in terms of lighting and their overall soft, blurred look. Fans immediately clocked the similarities and took to the comments section to protest Gillespie's apparent use of AI for such a massive feature film. The featurette was wiped from YouTube mere hours later. No official comment on the situation has yet been made by DC nor Warner Bros., leaving angry fans demanding answers. IGN has reached out to DC Studios for comment. "Never hire Craig Gillespie again," one fan wrote on X. "They got caught in 4k and panicked," another said of the video's removal. "They noticed people where hating on the AI [sic] and took down the video," another suggested. This is just the latest blow to hit Supergirl following its struggle at the box office in June. As of August 2026, it stands as one of the lowest-grossing DC Comics adaptations of all time, garnering $124 million globally on a $170 million budget. IGN's Clint Gage scored it a 6 out of 10, saying it "borrows from the best, but Milly Alcock's great take on Kara Zor-El gets lost in the spare parts from other movies used to assemble her story." Peter Safran's DC Studios and Gillespie also suffered from some creative clashes, reportedly testing competing cuts for Supergirl mere months before the film went to theaters. Sources close to the project told The Hollywood Reporter that the studio and Gillespie were "not creatively aligned," and DC Studios' version ended up winning out in the end. Despite Supergirl's lukewarm reception, Warner Bros. is still moving full speed ahead on James Gunn's sequel to Superman, Man of Tomorrow, with WB chief David Zasla remarking in an interview with Deadline: "A handful of recent films have underperformed expectations. Media is, by nature, a business full of hits and misses." James Gunn's Superman, on the other hand, was far more warmly received, with IGN scoring the flick an 8 out of 10 for being a "wonderfully entertaining, heartfelt cinematic reset" for the DCU. Virginia (she/her) is IGN's News Editor. With ten years of experience reporting on games and entertainment, she's got a storied background in the fighting game community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at @TheeMissGlaze.