Summary
A new theory regarding the importance of Tony Stark’s Iron Man in theMCUhas already been debunked byDeadpool & Wolverine. It’s always been known thatRobert Downey Jr.’s Tony Starkwas one of the most crucial characters in the MCU, not least because he became the franchise’s first on-screen superhero in 2008’sIron Man. However, after the release ofDeadpool & Wolverineand the reveal of a new multiversal concept, his importance could have sky-rocketed, according to popular new theories.
Deadpool & Wolverinemarked the first appearance of Ryan Reynolds' Merc with a Mouth in the MCU, and also introduced avariant of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, not the one from Fox’sX-Menfranchise. Jackman portrayed a different version of Wolverine because his original iteration lost his life during 2017’sLogan.Deadpool & Wolverinegave this death more meaning, however, as Fox’s original Wolverine was revealed to be the Anchor Being of Earth-10005. This confirmation has spurred theories concerningIron Man’s role in the MCU’s main timeline.
Tony Stark’s Iron Man Has Been Theorized To Be Earth-616’s Anchor Being
After Logan was revealed to be the Anchor Being of Earth-10005, Deadpool set out to find a Wolverine variant to replace him, hoping to save his world from deterioration. Some have speculated that a similar storyline could be repeated in the MCU’s future, especially afterRobert Downey Jr. was confirmed to be returning to the MCU as iconic Marvel villain Doctor Doom. Theories note that Tony Stark could have been theAnchor Being of Earth-616, which would lead the MCU’s heroes to find a variant to replace him - enter Doom.
As the face of the MCU for over a decade, Tony Stark’s Iron Man could easily be the Anchor Being of Earth-616. He was a founding member of the Avengers, the team’s secondary leader for its entire duration, a mentor to young heroes such as Peter Parker’s Spider-Man, and a constant source of innovation and development for the MCU. However,as attractive as this theory may be, and despite it offering a good explanation for Downey Jr.’s debut as Doctor Doom,Deadpool & Wolverinehas already proved this speculation false.
2008
2010
2012
2013
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
Deadpool & Wolverine Makes It Impossible For Iron Man To Be Earth-616’s Anchor Being
Deadpool & WolverinesawMatthew Macfadyen’s Mr. Paradoxreveal that the death of an Anchor Being causes the deterioration of their universe until it eventually dies completely.If this Tony Stark theory is true, and he was the Anchor Being of Earth-616, then the MCU’s main continuity will already be in the process of deterioration, and this is surely information that the Time Variance Authority would know, given that Earth-616 is still the Sacred Timeline. Because of this,Deadpool & Wolverinemeans it’s impossible for Tony Stark to be Earth-616’s Anchor Being.
If the TVA knew that Earth-616 was deteriorating, it doesn’t make sense that Mr. Paradox would offerWade Wilson’s Deadpoolthe chance to make the permanent move from his dying universe to another. Earth-616 must be safe and secure, for now, for Mr. Paradox to make this offer, especially considering Deadpool seems to be of some mysterious importance to the Multiverse Saga’s future. All told,this means the Anchor Being of Earth-616 must still be alive, which ensures that it certainly is not Tony Stark’s Iron Man.
Deadpool & Wolverine’s Ending Makes Me Even More Excited For The MCU’s Avengers: Secret Wars Movie
Marvel Studios' Avengers: Secret Wars is still scheduled for release in 2027, and Deadpool & Wolverine might have set up its storyline perfectly.
Who Could Be Earth-616’s Anchor Being If Not Iron Man?
If it’s impossible for Tony Stark to be the Anchor Being of Earth-616, then there are several other significant heroes in the MCU who could easily take this role. Perhaps most notably,Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strangehas been given a very prominent role in the Multiverse Saga, so it wouldn’t come as a surprise if the Master of the Mystic Arts was confirmed to be an Anchor Being.One popular suggestion names Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, but Marvel Studios' deal with Sony Pictures to use the wall-crawler may make it difficult to give him such a pivotal position.
Benedict Cumberbatch was previously referred to as the"Anchor of the Marvel Cinematic Universe"by Marvel boss Kevin Feige during Cumberbatch’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony back in 2022.
Despite her apparent death inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, speculation aboutElizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch’s returncould be solidified, should she be revealed as Earth-616’s Anchor Being. It’s also possible this honor could go to other long-running MCU characters, such as Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk, Anthony Mackie’s Captain America, or even Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye.There have also been fun suggestions, such as Madisynn or Happy Hogan, who returned inDeadpool & Wolverine, but only time will tell who the MCU’s Anchor Being actually is.
Deadpool & Wolverine
Cast
A follow-up to the highly successful Deadpool and Deadpool 2 films starring Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with a Mouth. The third film will be the first in the franchise to be developed under the Marvel Studios banner following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
