by By: Bianca Genevie Abello
Wicked is releasing in theaters later this month on November 22. Cynthia Erivo plays Elphaba, while Ariana Grande plays Glinda the Good. The film’s poster was recreated from the Broadway musical, framing both characters so both actresses can be seen. Last week, one fan edited the new poster to resemble the original, covering Erivo’s eyes entirely. Additionally, there was an AI-generated video of Grande and Erivo fighting one another.
“Our poster is an homage not an imitation, to edit my face and hide my eyes is to erase me. And that is just deeply hurtful,” Erivo said.
Wicked fans were surprised by Erivo’s response, as the fan edit wasn’t intended to be taken in that context. Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda, responded to Cynthia Erivo’s comments.
“I think it’s very complicated because I find AI so conflicting and troublesome sometimes, but I think it’s just kind of such a massive adjustment period,” Grande said. “This is something that is so much bigger than us, and the fans are gonna have fun and make their edits.”
The video ended up on the TikTok ‘For You’ page, and it was Photoshop that the editor used to manipulate the movie poster – not AI. Fans are making comments, and wondering why journalists don’t know the difference between Photoshop and AI editing.
With AI-generated content and Photoshop-based edits, it can be difficult to recognize how effects were created due to the rise of hyper-realistic changes. AI-based tools can generate new images and make extreme edits in just a few seconds. This process can still make odd errors, such as unnatural hands and distorted backgrounds. Meanwhile, Photoshop edits take hours of work and require precision and skill from the editor.
Since the rise of AI in media is a popular topic, it might’ve been easier for journalists to say that the movie poster was “AI-generated” as a tactic for grabbing attention. This step would have journalists focusing on AI narratives to align with public interest or concern over technology’s role in digital media. Even though this isn’t ethical, it is a good way of making the content more engaging.
Fans are split over Erivo’s reaction to the fan-edited version of the movie poster, with some expressing support and others defending the original Broadway poster.
As technology evolves, the conversation around the ethics of digital manipulation and the role of AI in creative industries will continue to challenge both creators and consumers alike.
Hi Bianca. Nice work! The situation around the “Wicked” movie poster reveals the complexities of digital manipulation and fan edits in an age of evolving technology. While Cynthia Erivo’s response highlights how edits can feel personal and diminishing, Ariana Grande’s stance acknowledges the inevitable fan engagement with content. The confusion between Photoshop and AI-generated edits in reporting also points to how media coverage can sometimes prioritize sensationalism over accuracy. As AI tools gain prominence, ethical discussions about respect for creative work and digital alteration are likely to grow, pushing creators, fans, and media to navigate these nuances thoughtfully.
I really enjoyed reading your post Bianca. I think any topic around AI and edited content and the role it plays in journalism is extremely interesting. I think the conversation surrounding ethics with editing is very interesting and will be a conversation that will be continued for a very long time. I don’t believe there is a perfect answer but I think that as long as we have these conversations surrounding what is and what is not ethical when it comes to AI and photoshop, some industry standard will arise.