7 MCU friendships that deserved their own spin-off

There is something special about MCU friendships. Marvel Cinematic Universe built its foundation on action and spectacle but its friendships made everything feel real. Some of these bonds helped carry entire story arcs while others added humor or heart when things got heavy.

Fans watched them grow across battles and losses. They held each other up during world-ending fights and stood beside each other when everything else broke down. These friendships were more than just side plots. They shaped the way these characters lived and fought. They brought out aspects of them that no villain or explosion ever could.

Some duos made us laugh even in chaos. Others gave us the most grounded moments in a universe full of aliens and gods. A few of these relationships had enough chemistry and history to carry their own spin-offs. They had backstories worth telling and future paths worth following.

Each one brought something unique that never got enough time to develop. The MCU always had the tools to explore these connections in more detail. The only thing missing was the focus. These seven friendships had the potential to go deeper and deserved a spotlight of their own. They were more than background details. They were stories waiting to be told.

7 MCU friendships that deserved their own spin-off

1. Steve Rogers & Bucky Barnes (Pre-Winter Soldier Days)

Steve Rogers & Bucky Barnes (Image via MCU)

Steve and Bucky’s bond started long before either of them wore a uniform. Steve was the scrappy underdog who never backed down. Bucky was the protector who always looked out for him.

After Steve became Captain America, he risked everything to rescue Bucky from a Hydra base. That mission formed the Howling Commandos and gave them both purpose. They fought together across Europe and took down key Hydra outposts.

A spin-off set during this time could show their tactical skills and how they handled real war zones. It would give space to the full team and highlight how Bucky evolved as a soldier. These missions were never fully shown in the films. Filling in that gap would make Bucky’s later brainwashing even more tragic. It would also show why Steve’s loyalty to him never wavered, even when the world told him to walk away.

2. Natasha Romanoff & Clint Barton

Natasha Romanoff & Clint Barton (Image via MCU)

Natasha and Clint had history that never played out on screen. Their friendship was one of the MCU’s most mentioned but least explained bonds. The line about Budapest hinted at a past that shaped both of them.

We know Clint was sent to eliminate Natasha but chose to recruit her instead. That decision shifted her path from assassin to Avenger. It also earned Clint her unwavering loyalty. They backed each other through missions no one else could survive.

A spin-off about their S.H.I.E.L.D. years would give fans real answers. It could follow the Budapest mission in detail and show how they operated undercover. It would also explore how Natasha earned redemption and how Clint became more than just a sniper. The two never needed romance to stay close. Their trust was built on survival and respect. That’s what made her sacrifice in Endgame hit harder than any goodbye.

3. Rocket & Groot

Rocket and Groot started as mercenaries but became one of the MCU’s most emotional duos. Rocket is loud and angry. Groot is calm and loyal. Together they balanced each other in every scene.

Rocket often acted like Groot’s big brother. He handled the plans while Groot followed his lead. When Groot sacrificed himself in the first Guardians film, Rocket was devastated. That reaction said everything about their bond.

A spin-off could focus on their life before joining the Guardians. It could show how they got stuck with each other. It could follow the smaller bounty jobs they pulled before the bigger fights. This would let the MCU dive into its weirder side without needing huge stakes. Their friendship had humor but also pain. Rocket never trusted easily. Groot did. Seeing how they started would explain why Rocket risked everything for him later and why that pain stayed with him.

4. Peter Parker & Ned Leeds

Peter Parker & Ned Leeds (Image via MCU)

Peter and Ned gave the Spider-Man movies their human side. Peter was always caught between being a hero and a teenager. Ned was the only person who made both parts of his life feel normal.

Ned found out Peter’s secret early and didn’t flinch. He wanted to help. He became the guy in the chair. He made excuses at school. He cheered Peter on. He covered for him when things fell apart.

A spin-off about these two could lean into the high school side of being a superhero. No aliens or multiverse drama. Just Peter trying to balance his powers with homework and Ned keeping things steady. Their bond was never about power. It was about loyalty and friendship. Seeing that dynamic in a show could give the MCU a grounded slice-of-life angle. It would also make Peter’s later isolation feel even more heartbreaking than it already did.

5. Thor & Korg

Thor lost everything after Ragnarok. His father died. His hammer broke. His home was gone. In the middle of all that loss, Korg showed up and gave him something to hold on to.

Korg was simple and cool. He wasn’t a warrior like Thor, but he kept things light. They played video games. They hid from the world. They made each other laugh when the rest of the Avengers were falling apart.

A spin-off could follow their post-Ragnarok travels. It could show how they handled surviving together after Asgard fell. It could also show how Thor leaned on someone who didn’t care about royalty or destiny. The tone would be low-stakes but personal. Not every story has to be a huge battle. Watching these two stumble into weird alien problems while trying to rebuild a home would offer something fresh. It would show that even gods need a friend.

6. Sam Wilson & Bucky Barnes (Before TFATWS)

Sam Wilson & Bucky Barnes (Image via MCU)

After Endgame, both Sam and Bucky were left with Steve’s legacy. They didn’t ask for it. They didn’t agree on it. But they had to deal with it anyway.

Sam struggled with the weight of the shield. Bucky struggled with the weight of his past. Neither had a roadmap. They only had each other and a quiet understanding that came from shared grief. Their friendship didn’t start with trust. It started with obligation.

A prequel to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier could show how they slowly found common ground. It could include missions that forced them to rely on each other. It could also show Bucky’s therapy sessions and Sam’s work with veterans. These details were hinted at but never fully explored. Their bond came from earning respect the hard way. Watching that happen would make their later partnership feel more earned and less convenient.

7. Tony Stark & James Rhodes

Tony Stark & James Rhodes (Image via MCU)

Tony and Rhodey weren’t just coworkers. They had years of friendship behind every scene they shared. Rhodey kept Tony grounded when he drifted too far into ego. Tony trusted Rhodey with everything, including his tech and his safety.

Before the suit, they worked together in the defense industry. Rhodey served in the Air Force. Tony built weapons. They both had a front-row seat to the consequences of their choices.

A spin-off set before Iron Man could follow that dynamic during military operations and tech testing. It could show Rhodey trying to steer Tony in the right direction while also dealing with the Pentagon’s demands. Their bond gave Tony someone who never sugarcoated the truth.

Rhodey was one of the few people who challenged him and stayed. That friendship became more important after Tony’s transformation. Without it, Tony might have stayed the man he was before that cave.