Deadpool and Wolverine ending explained: A glorious purpose

Deadpool & Wolverine was everything we could've hoped for and more. The highly anticipated team-up had to carry the weight of saving the Marvel Cinematic Universe on its shoulders and yet, it managed to deliver with surprising ease. Its action sequences were bloody and explosive, the soundtrack was spot-on, and it had way more cameos and Easter Eggs than we could've imagined. But one of the best aspects of the movie was its funny, emotional, and exhilarating story. Fans waited years to see Deadpool and Wolverine share the big screen, and the way it was executed was beyond perfect.

However, that's not to say Deadpool and Wolverine clarifies every single one of its mysteries. Some questions weren't answered whatsoever, and other plot points didn't have enough time to be properly explained (which isn't a surprise considering how stacked the movie is). So let's go over everything that the story had to offer and explain the wild ride that was Deadpool & Wolverine.

Deadpool is recruited by the TVA for a glorious purpose

Let's dive right into the biggest unexplained moment of the movie. Why was Deadpool taken to the TVA in the first place? Well, before we answer that, let's start with a little bit of context. We learn during the first act of the movie that Wade's universe is slowly disappearing ever since Wolverine perished at the end of Logan. So instead of letting the Merc With a Mouth die with the rest of his reality, the TVA kidnaps him during his birthday celebration to save him from suffering a terrible fate. But out of a whole universe filled with countless lives, why save him?

Paradox goes on to explain that this Deadpool is "special", and that he's destined for an unknown glorious purpose - if you will - that could potentially save the sacred timeline in the future. Additionally, he suggests that Deadpool could join the Avengers at some point in time. That idea is further established in the scene where we see Thor holding Wade's dying body through the screens of the TVA. It's an event we have yet to see unfold, but that very well may happen in an upcoming Avengers movie.

But why save this specific variant of Deadpool? After all, we see there are hundreds of versions of him throughout the multiverse. So what makes him the "special" being Paradox claims? Well, one of the movie's main plot points revolves around whether Deadpool can be a selfless hero or not. He tries to be so for Vanessa - and even attempts to join The Avengers - but that isn't really his nature. That concept is further established in the third act when all members of the Deadpool Corps help Cassandra attempt to destroy the multiverse. That's right, hundreds of variants of him are evil in different realities.

So the Merc With a Mouth isn't really a hero or a savior. Or at least, not usually. But this specific version of Wade Wilson broke the mold. He was willing to sacrifice himself to save his world - something that not many would've done in his place. That's why he could grow into a bigger hero by the time Avengers: Secret Wars releases. And by the looks of it, he could make the ultimate sacrifice to save the multiverse while Thor holds his dying body. Everything so far points towards that fate.

The universe was endagered (and saved) due to Anchor Beings

As we discussed before, Wolverine's death in Logan had great (and horrible) repercussions for his universe as a whole. But why was that? Well, the movie goes on to explain that he was an Anchor Being. Every reality in the multiverse has one; a being so important that, if they were to die, their whole universe would slowly fade away.

This is not the first time that the MCU has hinted at the great power that a few individuals have over the multiverse. During episode 7 of WandaVision, a mysterious commercial hints towards the existence of nexus beings. In comic books, they are incredibly powerful entities that can affect the probability (and future) of a specific universe. Furthermore, it's established in Loki that Nexus events are circumstances that split a single timeline into two. So by this point, it's clearly established that certain people and events have the power to create and destroy entire universes within the MCU.

An interesting twist presented in Deadpool & Wolverine is that the Anchor Beings of a universe can be replaced. Any variant of the same being would do the trick. That's why Wade Wilson was able to save his whole reality by bringing in a new version of Logan with him after the previous one died. But that also means if Hugh Jackman's latest iteration of Wolverine were to perish, then that whole universe would be doomed to fade away again (in thousands of years, that is).

Deadpool, Logan, X-23 (and perhaps more heroes) survived

When Cassandra Nova powers the "time ripper", she begins to consume Deadpool's universe as a whole. Paradox explains that the only way to stop the machine is to create a "circuit" or connection between the matter and anti-matter feeds powering it. However, doing so would result in the instant death of either Deadpool or Wolverine (even accounting for their regenerative powers). So no matter what, one beloved Marvel character had to die to save the world.

However, the duo of heroes team up and hold hands to act as one conduit between the feeds of the machine. If only one of them had gone to short-circuit the time ripper, then that person would've died. But since the two of them acted as a team, they managed to survive that disastrous fate. Besides, they were listening to Madonna the moment they saved the universe. So, you know, they had extra strength for that.

Fortunately, they weren't the only ones to live by the time the credits roll. In order to show gratitude for their actions, Hunter B-15 rescues X-23 from The Void, as Logan's daughter is seen dining with Deadpool, Vanessa, Blind Al, and the rest of the crew at the end of the movie. But why stop there? While it wasn't explicitly shown, we can assume Elektra, Blade, and Gambit were saved as well. After all, it isn't an exaggeration to say Channing Tatum completely owned the role of the latter. So perhaps if audiences react well enough, there's a chance we finally get to see him star in a movie as Remy LeBeau. So fingers crossed for that!