Supergirl has already generated plenty of discussion among DC fans. From its theatrical performance to questions surrounding its visual style, the latest DCU movie has faced several challenges since its release.
However, a new behind-the-scenes development has now brought fresh attention to the movie. The development involves one of its major characters and has raised questions about the creative process behind the film.
Supergirl Featurette Reveals AI Use in Lobo’s Design
The controversy centers on Lobo, the fan-favorite DC Comics character played by Jason Momoa.
An officially released featurette showed director Craig Gillespie discussing different Lobo designs with Momoa. However, the production team reportedly used generative AI to create the designs shown in the video during Lobo’s development.
The revelation quickly sparked criticism from fans.
Many viewers questioned why the production team used AI-generated designs instead of relying on traditional comic-book artwork and professional concept artists.
Moreover, Lobo has a long history in DC Comics. Therefore, fans expected his cinematic design process to draw heavily from the character’s established comic-book identity.
Why Are Fans Criticizing Lobo’s AI Designs?
The use of generative AI has become a controversial topic across Hollywood. Consequently, its reported use during the development of a major DC character has attracted significant attention.
Roger Slifer and Keith Giffen created Lobo in 1983. Since then, the character has developed a distinctive appearance and personality within DC Comics.
Because of that history, some fans believe DC Studios should have given professional concept artists the opportunity to develop different versions of Lobo.
Traditional concept art can also provide a stronger connection to existing comic-book designs. In contrast, AI-generated concepts can raise questions about artistic ownership, creative input, and the role of artists in major productions.
However, it remains unclear how much influence these AI-generated images had on Lobo’s final appearance in Supergirl.
Warner Bros. Discovery Removes the Official Featurette
The situation became even more notable after Warner Bros. Discovery removed the featurette from YouTube.
The removal has naturally raised questions among fans. However, the studio has not publicly explained why it removed the video.
It also remains unclear whether the studio removed the featurette because of the backlash surrounding the AI-generated designs.
For now, the disappearance of the video has only added more attention to the controversy.
Fans may therefore continue to wait for an official explanation from the studio or the filmmakers involved with Supergirl.
Supergirl Has Already Faced Backlash
The latest controversy comes after Supergirl experienced a difficult theatrical run.
The movie received a 52% score on Rotten Tomatoes and finished its worldwide theatrical run with approximately $125.8 million.
As a result, Supergirl became the lowest-grossing DC movie since 2004’s Catwoman.
The movie also faced criticism for its visual style. In particular, some fans expected a more colorful presentation because the film takes inspiration from the acclaimed Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comic.
Instead, the movie’s relatively muted visual approach became another major point of discussion.
Now, the reported AI use during Lobo’s development has created another controversy surrounding the film.
Is the AI Decision Connected to DC Studios?
At this stage, there is no clear indication of who specifically decided to use generative AI for the Lobo designs.
The featurette showed Gillespie discussing the designs with Momoa. However, that alone does not establish whether the decision came directly from the director.
It could instead reflect a broader creative process involving multiple members of the production team.
Therefore, it would be premature to place responsibility on one individual without an official explanation.
The situation also raises questions about how DC Studios approaches concept development for its major characters. Those questions could become even more important as the studio continues expanding its cinematic universe.
Milly Alcock’s Supergirl Still Has a Future in the DCU
Despite the movie’s challenges, Milly Alcock has received significant praise for her performance as Kara Zor-El.
Her portrayal has become one of the strongest aspects of the film for many viewers. More importantly, Supergirl is expected to remain an important character in the DCU.
Alcock is expected to have a major role in Man of Tomorrow. James Gunn has also hinted that Supergirl could appear in future DCU projects.
As a result, the character could potentially return in projects beyond her first solo movie, including the upcoming Wonder Woman reboot.
Therefore, the current controversy does not necessarily mean the end of Supergirl’s journey in the new DCU.
Despite the controversy, fans who missed Supergirl in theaters can now watch the movie digitally.
The film is also scheduled to arrive on 4K Blu-ray on September 8.
Meanwhile, attention is already shifting toward Supergirl’s future in the DCU. With Milly Alcock expected to return and the character potentially appearing in other projects, Kara Zor-El still has plenty of opportunities ahead.
For now, however, questions surrounding Lobo’s design process remain unanswered.
The removal of the featurette has only intensified the discussion, and fans will likely continue waiting for DC Studios to clarify the role generative AI played in developing one of its most recognizable new characters.
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