Paramount+ is using an AI-generated thumbnail image for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan that depicts Captain Kirk wearing a business suit, which does not appear in the movie or any official Star Trek release [1, 2].
The image digitally places William Shatner's head from a scene in the film onto a fabricated body dressed in a suit and tie, resulting in a bizarre and unnatural appearance [1, 2]. Some viewers still see the original movie box art on Paramount+, while others are shown this AI-generated "Terminator Kirk" thumbnail instead [1].
Author and artist Ryan Estrada noted on August 18 that Paramount+ appears to have used AI to expand a specific shot of Kirk undergoing a retinal scan into a full body image in a suit. He said, "Paramount+ wanted to use the image on the left as a poster for the wrath of Khan, so they used everyone’s least favorite technology to generate the rest of the image" [1, 2].
The business suit Kirk wears in the thumbnail is not from any scene in Wrath of Khan or any other official Star Trek appearance [2]. Despite some backlash, the AI-generated image remains live on the Paramount+ streaming platform as of August 19 [1, 2].
Paramount owner David Ellison said the company is leveraging advanced technology to reshape its media operations. He stated, "We’re using technology to transform every single aspect of this business, and we’re going to rationalize the cost. And at the end of the day, we’re owner operators" [1].
Amid these AI experiments, Paramount+ has recently cancelled Starfleet Academy and paused production on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, putting the franchise on hold [2].
