'Iron Man' Robert Downey Jr: 'Shane Black is best director'

Robert Downey Jr has revealed that he is only reprising his role as Iron Man in the Marvel franchise because Kiss Kiss Bang Bang director Shane Black is involved.

The actor will be playing the superhero again in the third film, following Jon Favreau's departure as director.

He told Hero Complex: "Bringing in Shane Black to write and direct Iron Man 3 to me is basically the only transition from Favreau to a 'next thing' that Favreau and the audience and Marvel and I could ever actually sign off on."

Downey Jr and Black previously collaborated on 2005's Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

"[Black's] more than the sum of his parts and he's also kind of been a sleeper for a long time," Downey Jr continued.

"We're not talking much about [the script] right now because Shane is off writing and we talked before that, and when we are talking again the talking is going to be over pretty quick [because we're on the same page]."

Downey Jr will next be seen in the titular role in Guy Ritchie's upcoming Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.

Watch the trailer for Iron Man 2 below: