We’re just a few weeks away from the release of Zach Cregger’s Weapons.
Warner Bros. Pictures are said to have serious confidence in the film, moving into a summer release date amongst stiff competition.
However, the studio made the decision this past week to release one final short teaser for the film… And it may have cost them dearly.
Whilst the short clip might seem run-of-the-mill, a closer look has seemingly alienated some audience members.
Beginning with a short animation, following the words of a young narrator, the teaser has amassed a considerable number of dislikes.
Why? Well, upon closer inspection, the animation featured in the latest teaser is clearly AI generated.
This sparked considerable outrage online, with many voicing their displeasure in Warner Bros. YouTube comments section.
Given the rapid advancement of AI technology in recent years, the fear that it will cost people jobs has become a very real threat. This is undoubtedly most prominently in the film and television industry, and was one of the main reasons for the 2023 SAG-AFTRA Strikes.
The consensus regarding the Weapons teaser is that Warner Bros. have acted unfairly, and taken work away from the animation industry. Consequently, many have voiced their stance that the teaser dampened their enthusiasm for the film.
So, could the discourse contribute to less people turning out to see Weapons on August 9th? The film is already facing tough competition in Disney’s Freakier Friday, so will undoubtedly need all the support it can muster from genre fans.
You can see the controversial teaser below:
