Deadpool & Wolverine features a lot of twists and turns as Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) and Logan (Hugh Jackman), along with Fox’s other Marvel characters, make their way to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Aside from the cameos, the threequel also features several Easter eggs, like Moon Knight’s ice cream truck and Deadpool’s future in the franchise, apparently setting the stage for Avengers: Secret Wars. However, with the recent announcement of Robert Downey Jr.’s return as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, Deadpool & Wolverine seemingly earlier teased the actor’s epic villainous comeback in the MCU.
Long before Deadpool & Wolverine hit the big screen, many noticed Red Skull’s coupe, Johan Schmidt’s (Hugo Weaving) vehicle in Joe Johnston’s 2011 Captain America: The First Avenger, in the first trailers. However, compared to its original style, the MCU’s only movie this year replaces the Hydra hood ornament with the emblem of Iron Man’s helmet. It’s also good to note that the vehicle features some flames known for being Tony Stark’s signature style, hinting that this car belongs to the genius, billionaire, playboy philanthropist.
This gives birth to a theory that there’s a branch in the timeline where Iron Man fills Red Skull’s villainous role. To prove this claim, his signature coupe is remade into Stark’s image, residing in The Void and used by Cassandra Nova’s (Emma Corrin) army. Though it isn’t confirmed that Iron Man has become Red Skull or the leader of Hydra, this just hints that Stark is going down the dark path. Hence, he’s about to return in a villainous role in the MCU.
Is Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man the MCU’s anchor being?
Deadpool & Wolverine has introduced viewers to a new term, anchor being, after Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen) says the phrase when he explains to Deadpool that his timeline, Earth-10005, is dying due to Wolverine's death. As it turns out, Wolverine is the said timeline’s anchor being, and as he dies in James Mangold’s 2017 Logan, their timeline is slowly fading away.
Many may still be confused about what an anchor being is. It means that someone's mere presence stabilizes the timeline they belong to. So, when that being dies, their universe begins to slowly fade away until it completely disappears. As Paradox explains, an anchor being is “an entity of such vital importance that when they die, their whole world slowly withers out of existence.”
So, to prevent his home from dying, Deadpool tracks down a Wolverine variant to stabilize the X-Men timeline with a new anchor being. The Merc with a Mouth even crosses over into the Sacred Timeline, MCU’s Earth-616, which, according to TVA rules, has its own anchor being whose very existence is connected to all reality.
That said, Iron Man is probably the MCU’s anchor being, considering he’s the franchise’s “anchor” in the same way Wolverine anchored Fox’s X-Men universe. In an interview with ComicBook, before Downey was announced to play Doctor Doom in Doomsday and Secret Wars, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige addressed the theory that Iron Man is the MCU’s anchor being. However, the Marvel boss just played coy about it and didn’t give anything away.
“The fact that you even asked that makes me happy and that the term has ignited your imagination to even ask that question,” he said.
Details about Downey’s return as Doctor Doom remains scarce. However, there are theories that he may play the Infamous Iron Man version of the villain. So, whether he’s the MCU’s anchor being or a villain who turns himself into a Latverian version of the Invincible Iron Man, everything remains to be seen.
Deadpool & Wolverine is now playing in theaters, while Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars are set to be released in May 2026 and May 2027, respectively.
