Since the beginning of the MCU, the Avengers have stood out as some of the most selfless characters in the universe and a certain scene in Deadpool & Wolverine confirms a vital rule for a hero to be considered to join Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Deadpool & Wolverine has had significant box office success so far during its release, becoming the highest opening R-rated film of all time, and the best MCU opener since Spider-Man: No Way Home.

By the time Deadpool & Wolverine’s ending is wrapped up, the new duo had left their mark on the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Beyond the appeal of the titular characters, Deadpool & Wolverine is full of Easter eggs that longtime fans of both the MCU and Fox’s superhero outings should love. As was always expected, Deadpool & Wolverine packs in surprising cameos, but one in particular is directly tied to the Avengers and establishes a rule that might alter how the superhero team is perceived.

Deadpool & Wolverine Confirmed Nobody Can Join The Avengers For Personal Gain

Early in Deadpool & Wolverine, it’s revealed that Deadpool traveled to the sacred timeline before Avengers: Endgame, in hopes of becoming one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. He is interviewed by Happy Hogan, who is in charge of assessing lower level potential recruits for the Avengers. Wade is rejected from being an Avenger because he is looking to join the team for his own personal gain. Happy tells him why this is antithetical to what members of the Avengers are supposed to be doing it for.

“The Avengers don’t do the job because they need it. They do the job because people need them,” explains Happy. Looking back on the original Avengers team, they were brought together instead of seeking out the opportunity, and this explanation in Deadpool & Wolverine emphasizes that Avengers’ ideal. This is arguably the most important characteristic for an Avenger to have and one of the catalysts for Wade Wilson’s development in the movie.

Deadpool’s Avengers Interview Calls Back To Spider-Man’s First MCU Movie

Aside from this scene in Deadpool & Wolverine, it was Spider-Man: Homecoming that really emphasized how important this idea is to becoming an Avenger. Following the events of Captain America: Civil War, Peter Parker desperately wants to become an Avenger. He spends the first portion of the movie trying to get a hold of Happy or waiting for Happy to call him and tell him the Avengers need his help.

It isn’t until the end of Spider-Man: Homecoming that Tony offers Peter a spot on the team. Of course, by the time Peter got the opportunity, he had changed his mind, showing his growth as both a superhero and a person. Spider-Man didn’t need to prove to himself anymore that he could be an Avenger. He just wanted to continue to do what he was doing already because it was the right thing to do.

Bringing Happy back as a character in Deadpool & Wolverine was a really fun choice, and allows for a small, behind-the-scenes glimpse at the Avengers’ operation. By cementing the rule that someone can’t become an Avenger if they are doing it for personal gain, it further strengthens the integrity of each member of the team and retroactively makes their sacrifices feel even more significant. By the end of the movie, though, it feels like Deadpool might have finally earned a spot working alongside the Avengers. Only if they need him, of course.