What is an 'anchor being'? Deadpool and Wolverine's new MCU term, explained
Jul. 25, 2024Matthew Macfadyen’s Paradox using the term super early on in Deadpool 3, but what does it actually mean?
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Deadpool and Wolverinemight mark the first time the titular heroes have officially been in a MCU movie, but the Merc with a Mouth and gruff-talking mutant aren’t the only things the film is introducing to the franchise. There’sMatthew Macfadyen’s rogue TVA agent ParadoxandEmma Corrin’s Cassandra Nova; there’s the word “pegging”, and there’s also… the term ‘anchor being’.
Paradox goes on to explain that he’s grown tired of waiting for it to vanish completely, and that he and his team have invented a Time Ripper, a new machine that can wipe a timeline from existence in an instant – and he plans to use it on Wade’s within 72 hours. (If Paradox weren’t to intervene, Wade’s universe would have at least “a couple of thousand years” left, which would mean Vanessa, Peter, and co would be fine).
He’s not a monster, though, of course, he does offer Wade the chance to be placed on the Sacred Timeline, with the promise that he’ll soon be rubbing shoulders with the Avengers if he agrees. Unsurprisingly, Wade does not…
So, what is an “anchor being”?
An ‘anchor being’ is someone whose mere presence in whichever timeline they belong to stabilizes it. When said being dies, their universe begins to steadily decay until one day, it’s disappeared completely.
With that, there’s an argument to be made thatHe Who Remainswas the Sacred Timeline’s ‘anchor being’, which is possibly why his death inLoki season 1resulted in their universe descending into chaos? That said, He Who Remains was aware of the influence he had over all timelines whereas Logan seemingly wasn’t aware of anything of the sort, so it could just as easily be a character like Doctor Strange, Black Panther, or someone we’ve not even met yet.
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‘Anchor beings’ are not to be confused with ‘nexus beings’, those who are known to harness immense power and be able to travel around the multiverse without assistant in the comics, like Scarlet Witch andDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’sAmerica Chavez.
Unfortunately for him, though, it’s not quite as simple as that, and even if it was, he’s only gone and enlisted the help of the “worst Wolverine” there is. According to Paradox, “this Wolverine failed his entire world”. In short? Hero type? He ain’t.
Deadpool and Wolverine is in UK cinemas now, and will release in the US on July 26. For more, check out all theupcoming Marvel movies and showson the way, as well as our guide to how to watch theMarvel movies in order.
I am an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering all things TV and film across our Total Film and SFX sections. Elsewhere, my words have been published by the likes of Digital Spy, SciFiNow, PinkNews, FANDOM, Radio Times, and Total Film magazine.
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