Netflix’s Hamnet has unexpectedly become part of the growing debate surrounding AI-generated imagery, but the latest controversy appears to be based on a historical misunderstanding rather than evidence of artificial intelligence. A promotional image from the film drew accusations online after some viewers claimed its text contained an obvious AI-generated mistake.
The controversy centered on an image showing a prop flyer advertising an early performance of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The text appeared to read “firft appearance on stage,” prompting some social media users to argue that the image was AI-generated because the letter “S” had seemingly been replaced with an “F.”
However, the supposedly incorrect character is an archaic typographical form known as the long “S.” The historical letterform was widely used in English printing and handwriting during Shakespeare’s era, meaning the flyer was intentionally designed to reflect the period.
The “AI Error” in Hamnet Was Actually Historically Accurate
The debate began after X user Erik Anderson shared the Netflix image and called it “clearly AI-generated,” with the post receiving hundreds of thousands of views. Much of the reaction focused on the supposedly mangled text, which many people associated with the well-known tendency of AI image generators to produce distorted words.
But the letter that looked like an “f” was not an error. In historical typography, the long “S” was commonly written as “ſ,” particularly when appearing in the middle of a word. That explains why “first” on the flyer appeared unusual to modern audiences.
The prop itself also reflects the historical world created for Hamnet. According to Vogue, production designer Fiona Crombie and the creative team worked extensively to build a tactile version of Shakespeare’s world, including the recreation of the Globe Theatre.
The controversy highlights a broader issue surrounding public reactions to AI imagery. As genuine AI-generated content becomes increasingly common, audiences may be growing more suspicious of anything that appears unusual, heavily processed, or historically unfamiliar.
Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao and based on Maggie O’Farrell’s novel, follows a fictionalized version of William Shakespeare and his family as they deal with love, ambition and devastating loss. The film stars Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal and is now available on Netflix.
