Even in death, Iron Man could very well continue to be the heart of Marvel’s treasures.

If playing with its fans’ emotions was a sport, Marvel would be a champion.

First, the studio killed off its most bankable character and Avengers crown jewel, Iron Man. Then it lit a fuse of hope after Hugh Jackman’s widely celebrated return in Deadpool & Wolverine. Only to finally bring back Robert Downey Jr. as a supervillain in the MCU instead.

RDJ as Tony Stark aka Iron ManRobert Downey Jr. as Iron Man | Marvel Studios

Spoiler Alert !!!
Major spoilers for Deadpool & Wolverine ahead. Read at your own risk!

Now, with the concept of Anchor Being introduced in Deadpool 3, the entire fandom is busy concocting theories on who it could be for Earth-616 as they hunt for potential Easter eggs that they may have missed.

But it looks like a major chunk of the comic book buffs and Marvel connoisseurs are already convinced about who it could be. And honestly? They might just be onto something (this is your last spoiler warning!).

Deadpool & Wolverine Launches the Concept of Anchor Being

If you’ve seen the latest MCU tentpole (and if you haven’t, why are you still reading this? Go watch it first!), you must know that the Time Variance Authority’s straight-laced agent, Paradox, kicks off the idea of Anchor Beings.

An Anchor Being is an entity pivotal to a particular timeline, in the absence of which, the respective universe would fall into ruin. In a nutshell, they’re like the main characters of their timeline.

Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool in Deadpool 3Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) | Marvel Studios/20th Century Studios

But it’s also imperative to note that the universe doesn’t literally collapse once its Anchor Being dies, the damage is much more gradual yet pernicious than that. It could take thousands of years for said destruction to unravel, as remarked in Deadpool & Wolverine.

And of course, there’s a way to avoid such large-scale obliteration from happening, as very well seen in the Hugh Jackman-starrer. But the million-dollar question is – who is the Anchor Being of Earth-616?

Fans Speculate Iron Man As Earth-616’s Anchor Being

There are numerous theories in the making regarding the Anchor Being of Earth-616, the primary continuity wherein a large chunk of Marvel storylines unfold. And while there’s no way of telling, fans appear wildly suspicious of Iron Man given the absolute wreck the Sacred Timeline has fallen into.

Funeral scene in Avengers: EndgameIron Man’s funeral in Avengers: Endgame (2019) | Marvel Studios

As we’re well aware, the death of an Anchor Being acts as a catalyst for the disruption of a given universe. So, it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to assume that the Anchor Being of Earth-616 has already kicked the bucket. To drive the point home, Kevin Feige‘s MCU is in a vortex of chaos, now more than ever (and beyond just the fictional realm).

When Robert Downey Jr.‘s Iron Man sacrificed himself towards the end of Avengers: Endgame, it could’ve easily triggered a domino effect whereby Earth-616 slowly begins to come apart at the seams.

While there are many potential candidates like multiversal wizard Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Iron Man’s successor, Spider-Man (Tom Holland), so far, Tony Stark seems perhaps the most ideal choice. Or so it seems.

Deadpool & Wolverine is currently playing in theatres.