Fans often have the best eye for potential romances, as proven by these MCU fan ships that deserved to become canon.
The MCU’s upcoming release, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, appears to bring one of the franchise’s most beloved relationships back on-screen with Quill and Gamora. While the two are considered one of the MCU’s best canon couples, there also exists a plethora of great MCU fan ships that rank higher in popularity.Not only do many of these pairings depict healthy relationships between compatible characters, but a handful also showed real on-screen potential. Despite never achieving canonical status in the MCU, these fan ships still remain adored throughout the fandom, forming the basis of countless fanfics and online edits.
Putting aside their initial tension, Sam and Bucky form an unlikely friendship in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. But beyond his budding bromance with Sam, Bucky also shared some cute moments with Sarah Wilson.
Sarah is shown to have a warm yet strong presence that even a typical recluse like Bucky can’t help but enjoy. She values and prioritizes family, something Bucky has had little of. Plus, this way Bucky can officially become a part of Sam’s family and the two friends can continue their domestic and boat adventures together.
9Katy & Xialing
Katy and Xialing were both two important and strong women in Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and fans were quick to pair the two together, especially after their brief yet intimate moment alone in the film.
As two independent people from completely different worlds, Katy and Xialing would have much to teach one another while sharing the same, strong spirit as empowered women. Xialing’s serious and classy manner also complements Katy’s goofy and open personality, making them a popular opposites-attract case.
8Carol & Maria
Right from their initial meeting in Captain Marvel, Carol Danvers and Maria Rambeau have all the chemistry to make them one of the most hoped-for sapphic ships in the MCU. From challenging a sexist institution to karaoke nights to living and raising Monica together, the two characters can be seen as being extremely queer-coded.
Carol and Maria’s intimacy and comfort together make them a popular fan ship. While they do work as best friends, their closeness could have easily translated into more, but sadly, their potential LGBTQ+ storyline never made it into the film.
7Drax & Mantis
Following the fan-favorite trope of pairing the tough character with the kindest one, Drax and Mantis won over shippers with their chemistry. Their wholesome bond started in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and remains intact, furthered by the holiday special that focused on the chaotic duo.
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Drax and Mantis are shown to share a deep regard for one another, with their playful banter often leading to deep and heartwarming conversations. Sharing a similar sense of humor and naively literal approach to the world, Drax and Mantis have a lot of potential for growing into a healthy romance, perhaps in their next installment.
6Sam & Bucky
While they resolved their initial Captain America: The Winter Soldier conflict after earning their own MCU TV show, Sam and Bucky remain a popular fan ship given their potential as enemies-to-friends-to-lovers.
Sam and Bucky evidently bring out the best in one another and suit the other person well with their contrasting yet complementing personas. Their union could have easily been written into their series, which already gave insight into their possible domestic life together via their budding romance. Plus, their union would be the real ultimate legacy tribute to Steve, who adored them both.
5Wanda & Natasha
As two of the MCU’s strongest women, it makes sense why fans wanted to see Wanda Maximoff and Natasha Romanoff paired together. When they first teamed up, both Wanda and Natasha had complicated pasts with a lot of baggage and trauma — an opportunity for the two to connect through their loss and womanhood in a way they couldn’t with the other.
Wanda and Natasha have struggled to find belonging and are shown to share a deep respect regard for each other, sentiments that perhaps could’ve been furthered if only they had had more time alone in the Avengers compound as they do in their fan fics.
4Steve & Bucky
With a long history and the ups and downs throughout their relationship, Steve and Bucky are a beloved fan ship that had ample opportunity to become canon on-screen. There’s a lot of warmth between them that makes them seem like a good pair.
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Whether it was their cute origins in Captain America, their heartbreaking reunion in the sequel, or their “us against the world” attitude in Captain America: Civil War, Steve and Bucky shared a sweet, intimate, unwavering bond that always left fans wanting more. If only filmmakers had delivered.
3Kate & Yelena
Despite getting little screen time together, the entertaining and tension-filled interactions between Yelena and Kate in Hawkeye were enough for them to become a fan-favorite MCU ship. Apart from their obvious opposite energy and well-suited looks, the two characters are also taking on the mantles of their previously shipped counterparts, Natasha and Clint
With the Natasha and Flint connection, fans are more eager to see Kate and Yelena paired instead. Luckily, as the future of the MCU’s Phase 4, Yelena and Kate may have more opportunities to develop a much-needed sapphic MCU romance to enjoy more banter and mac and cheese together.
2Steve & Natasha
Whether it was Natasha checking in on Steve after Peggy’s funeral or Steve calling Natasha’s family, the duo proved time and again that they shared a deep and personal connection different from the others. Fans ran wild with the implications between these two.
Steve and Natasha’s close friendship, respect, affection for each other, and sizzling chemistry from Captain America: The Winter Soldier all gave plenty of opportunities for this fan ship to become the MCU’s healthiest couple. Unfortunately, that possibility was never seized — but Romanogers lives on in the fandom.
1Jane & Valkyrie
Following director Taika Waititi’s claims that the film will be “super gay” (via Independent), fans immediately began shipping Thor: Love and Thunder‘s Jane and Valkyrie. The pairing seemed obvious, given the strong characters of both women, their close relationship with Thor and Asgard, and their similar heroic nature.
Given that Thor and Jane’s relationship had been sidelined, the new film would’ve been the prime time to canonize Jane and Valkyrie’s potential relationship. Sadly, that fan ship opportunity has sailed away.
