MAJOR spoilers ahead for Deadpool 2. If you haven't seen it in theaters, look away!
After two years of waiting, Deadpool 2 has finally arrived in theaters. The superheroic sequel features Wade Wilson in yet another fourth wall breaking adventure, and it greatly expanded the scope of the franchise. Deadpool 2 was chock full of shocking moments, although there was none quite as brutal as Vanessa's death in the film's first act. It was shocking and brutal, and revealed that the sequel was going to have some very real stakes. But the post-credits scene saw Deadpool going back in time for a few reasons, the first of which is saving Vanessa's life. So is she really alive, or was this just a joke? Writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick recently answered just this, saying:
Yes, the after credit scene is CANON! Don't expect that device to stick around beyond this movie, though!
It looks like Deadpool 2's post-credits scene wasn't just a final gag for the audience. Wade actually traveled through time, and saved Vanessa from being killed on their anniversary. And just like that, one of the franchise's leading characters is reborn.
This definitive answer comes from Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick's recent Reddit AMA. The writers fielded a variety of questions about Deadpool 2, including some more nit picky ones related to the franchise's official canon. While Vanessa's death seemed legitimate and possibly an opening for Zazie Beetz' Domino to begin a romantic plot line with the protagonist, we should probably expect Morena Baccarin to reprise her role in the X-Force movie.
Vanessa's resurrection means that almost all of the character deaths in Deadpool don't really matter. The title character seemingly died in the film's conclusion, ready to reunite with his true love in the afterlife. But Vanessa told him it wasn't the right time, and he eventually returned to the world of the living. Now it seems she was right, as their true reunion happened via Wade traveling back in time to save her life. The couple can presumably keep living their happy life, and start having kids.
Aside from Vanessa and Wade's returns from the dead, there is one more character who got out alive: X-Force member Peter. Most of the team perishes after jumping from a helicopter, and Peter was one of the members who died gruesomely in front of our eyes. During the post-credits scene, Wade is also sure to save him, as the poor guy probably shouldn't have been involved in the first place. As for the rest of the OG X-Force? They're probably dead for good.
Deadpool 2 is in theaters now, with character deaths and resurrections in spades. Be sure to check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
