Shane Black talks about his 'romance' with Robert Downey Jr.

Total Film magazine issue 206 is out now, and our cover star Iron Man heads up frankly ginormous Marvel special.

Inside the issue (which is available for just £1.99 on your iPad ), we chat with all the key players on Iron Man 3 , including Robert Downey Jr. and director Shane Black.

Black is new to the franchise (taking the reins from Jon Favreau, who stays on board as a co-star), but he does have previous form with RDJ, having directed Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and punched up the dialogue in the original Iron Man .

On his relationship with Downey Jr., Black told us: “Robert and I go back almost 10 years to the day when we sorta locked eyes across a Whole Foods market and sorta said, ‘We should work together.’

“It’s almost been like a romance with Robert, over a period of time. He knows how to push my buttons and I know how to push his, and I think that’s what makes it such a joy.

“I owe a great deal of thanks to this man who will be gracious enough to say I’ve helped him with his career and comeback, but it’s every bit the opposite.”

Iron Man 3 opens in the UK on 25 April 2013.

For much more on Iron Man 3 , pick up the brand-new issue 206 of Total Film magazine, which is on sale now.

Read a full preview of Total Film magazine - Issue 206 .

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The Total Film team are made up of the finest minds in all of film journalism. They are: Editor Jane Crowther, Deputy Editor Matt Maytum, Reviews Ed Matthew Leyland, News Editor Jordan Farley, and Online Editor Emily Murray. Expect exclusive news, reviews, features, and more from the team behind the smarter movie magazine.