19 Dynamic Duos From The MCU Who Are Actually Friends In Real-Life

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has a way of turning coworkers into BFF's, apparently!

Elana

• Published in Film & TV
• May 29, 2022

In 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe kicked off "Phase One" with Iron Man, starring Robert Downey, Jr. It was Marvel Studios' first self-financed film, and for the following four years another four films featuring other Marvel superheroes prepared us for 2012's Marvel's The Avengers.

Phase Three didn't conclude until 2019, with Spiderman: Far From Home. Today, owned by Disney, Marvel is showering fans (new and old) with incredible moves and TV series as a part of Phase Four.

Do you think we ever get enough of the characters, heroes, and stories that Marvel has been creating for so long being turned into feature-length films, sensational miniseries, and TV shows? I think not.

With this much action-packed, emotional rollercoaster content, it's hard to imagine that there wouldn't be unforgettable friendships forged among actors along the way. And we don't mean just Bucky and Cap.

It's almost incomprehensible how many talented hands and faces have taken part in what the MCU has been since 2008, but some stories supersede others and those fascinating fables of celebrity reality are what we're focused on today. Some of the MCU's films turned coworkers into BFFs, and if that isn't something entirely fascinating to gush over, then what the heck is?

Let's just dive right in.

1. Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson

This duo hit it off so well filming Thor: Ragnarok, that they went on to collaborate on MIB: International. They've also made it clear they're open to future collaborations together!

Tessa told Refinery 29:

"I sort of love that iconic Hollywood thing of pairing two actors over the course of their career, and they get to do all sorts of things together. I think of it like that with Chris and me. I hope that we get to make many more things together."

In an interview with Build, the duo also confessed that multiple kissing scenes were cut from Thor: Ragnarok...

...and that the pair repeatedly snuck kisses into their MCU scenes together!

2. Robert Downey, Jr and Gweneth Paltrow

In an interview with People, Paltrow confessed that after playing Pepper Potts in seven MCU films, she found a "lifelong friend" in Robert Downey, Jr.

She said:

"My relationship with Robert Downey Jr., which was obviously forged through all the Iron Man and Avengers movies. I feel like I was able to find an incredible, lifelong, inspirational partner and friend."

Plus who could forget this very public interaction shared on Instagram about Paltrow's "very specifically scented" candles... It's too adorable.

3. Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson

This duo of MCU superheroes have been friends and colleagues since long before the MCU but there's no denying their friendship was strengthened from working on so many films over so many years together.

When Evans and Johansson participated in Variety's Actor on Actor interview, Scarlette shrieked with joy upon seeing her pal Chris.

Scarlett has even said that her and Chris are such good friends that she knows him "too well."

4. Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan

Both of these star-studded dudes started out playing supportive roles in Captain America movies, but they went on to costar in their very own series on Disney+

A good deal of credit to the existence and success of their series can be attributed to their absolutely adorable friendship.

After all, based on even their Entertainment Weekly interview you can clearly see that they're in a perpetual state of admiration, teasing each other, or just sharing mutual affection for one another. As well as "proof" that opposites attract because every introvert has their extrovert buddy.

5. Robert Downey, Jr. and Tom Holland

There are some undeniable parallels between the real-life actors and their superhero counterparts, especially when it comes to their relationship.

Robert Downey, Jr adores Tom Holland so much that he cast him as a voice actor in his film Dolittle. And Tom Holland has confessed with not a speck of shame to be found that he shamelessly stole RDJ's sense of fashion and style!

6. Richard Madden and Gemma Chan

Ten years before filming Eternals together as Ikarus and Sersi, Madden and Chan met each other.

The pair has said that being friends that long helped them play their roles in Eternals.

In an interview with FanSided, they joined their costar Kit Harrington to endearingly gush over fond memories of filming scenes outside of a pub in Camden where they'd all hung out years ago.

7. Lupita Nyong'o and Winston Duke

In an interview for Showtime's Desus & Mero, the pair talked about their days at Yale School of Drama.

You can check out that video here and here all about how before Winston was accepted to the school, Lupita gave him a campus tour!

The pair also went on to star as a married couple in Jordan Peele's Us and they credit their excellent chemistry with their pre-existing bond as good friends.

8. Scarlett Johansson and Florence Pugh

These gorgeous gals met when they played sisters in the Black Widow feature-length film.

There's also a well-documented list of examples how these two spent the entire press tour singing each other's praises!

9. Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany

It would be hard to argue that as Vision and Wanda, these two aren't the MCU's most romantic couple.

But their real-life friendship has quite the endearing track-record that's well-documented.

10. Jon Favreau and Robert Downey, Jr.

Jon Favreau worked hard to convince Marvel executives to cast Robert Downey, Jr as Iron Man.

They've also joked that they're the presidents of each other's fan clubs

In an interview, Jon told Forbes:

"To see somebody that has talent and to see somebody that has potential — and it just takes a moment sometimes to show other people, but it really makes you happy when now the world understands the things that I saw in him and that he saw in me too."

They've also worked on a variety of non-MCU projects together and RDJ has said that his relationship with Jon is akin to brothers.

11. Sophie Turner and Alexandra Shipp

These two became incredibly good friends while filming X-Men: Apocalypse.

So much so, that they ended up moving in together to live as roommates while the film was shooting.

When Sophia married Joe Jonas, Alexandra was even a bridesmaid!

12. Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth

This Chris combo became insanely good friends during their time working together on MCU films.

So much so, that in an interview with Variety, Hemsworth said that he and his fellow Chris would often have to be separated on press tours because they spent too much time goofing off with each other and, "not getting sh*it done."

They both have confessed in a variety of interviews to sharing a brotherly bond and in that same Variety interview, Hemsworth also pitched a film idea for the duo to costar in:

“I would love to do one of those ’80s buddy comedies, where we could shed the characters we are known for.”

13. Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart

Nobody could deny these two nailed their roles as X-Men's Magneto and Professor X in a string of X-Men movies, but did you know they met years before filming their first X-Men movie?

They did grow significantly closer while filming the four main movies, though.

Not only that, but in 2019 when Patrick married Sunny Ozell, Sir Ian officiated for them!

Sir Ian actually became a minister specifically TO officiate the wedding, and both men have been knighted.

14. James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender

Speaking of Magneto and the Professor, the very same roles were filled by McAvoy and Fassbender also fostered quite the incredible friendship.

At times, this duo has even been dubbed "The New Stewart and McKellen."

Quite frankly, they're not remotely shy about showing their affection for each other.

We love to see it.

16. James McAvoy and Jessica Chastain

James and Jessica had worked together prior to Jessica's role as Vuk in X-Men: Dark Phoenix

In the three-part film The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby, the pair played a married couple.

Jessica has also gone on record praising James for championing gender pay equality before it was "the cool thing to do."

After their fifth film together (It: Chapter 2,) James jokingly turned to Twitter to say, "She's really difficult to work with. I'm probably the only guy in the industry willing to do it." 

17. Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston

Playing brothers with a tumultuous relationship in the MCU translated to quite the real-life bromance and these dudes are the best brothers in the MCU and a dynamic duo of cool in real-life.

Both of their characters are still kicking it off in the MCU (Loki Season 2, and Thor: Love and Thunder,) but for now it seems unlikely we'll see both actors on the same set any time soon in those roles.

18. Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Holland

After sharing so many scenes in Avengers: Infinity War, these two were paired together on the press tour, clearly displaying an undeniable bond that had formed.

While Benedict may have originally been tasked with preventing Tom from spilling spoilers on the Infinity War press tour, they have worked together and remained friends.

19. Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds

After co-starring in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, a Faux Feud became prominent and hilarious as the two made appearances.

And of course in Ryan's true fashion, there's plenty of Wolverine mentions in the Deadpool movies. These hysterical, talented, and handsome dudes have been friends for over ten years now.

If you're currently finding yourself wondering how you can become the trio to some of these duos, I won't blame you. The MCU has gifted us an abundance of quality entertainment, but it also gifted some lifelong friendships to so many of the actors that made these movies a reality.

Elana