Iron Man 2 stars kiss and tell

Gwyneth Paltow's Pepper Potts gets close to boss Iron Man (Robert Downey Jnr). Photo / Supplied

LOS ANGELES - Spoiler alert! At long last, Tony and Pepper kiss.

In the 2008 blockbuster Iron Man, billionaire Tony Stark (aka superhero Iron Man, played by Robert Downey Jr.) and personal assistant Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), nearly locked lips.

Near the end of Iron Man 2, they finally get to finish what they started.

"Actually shooting the kiss itself was great, because the two actors have tremendous affection for one another, as friends," said director Jon Favreau.

"And so it was a nice feeling. It was the last day of shooting. We were there, and it was one of my favourite moments in the film."

Also present were Downey and Paltrow's respective spouses, Susan Downey (an Iron Man 2 executive producer) and Coldplay singer Chris Martin.

"It wasn't weird at all," recalled Downey. "Every script discussion had to do with, 'Is there going to be a kiss? What's going to happen with Tony and Pepper?' It was the No. 1 question of the fans. So, it was the most important thing for us to address."

As for Downey kissing someone else in front of his wife? "I'm working. I'm working. I'm working," he replied. "(Paltrow is) cute. She's great. We're both very happily (married). I'm not going to try to compete with Chris Martin, particularly when he's there."

Noted Paltrow, "In our job, it's not such a big deal. We kiss people all the time. ... We just kiss whoever they say. So, it wasn't a big deal to me at all. It was kind of funny. Robert and I are really close friends. We don't ... it's not like that. But in a movie, it's always a fake kiss anyway."

Never fear, action fans. Things don't get too lovey-dovey here. The kissing scene is lightened with a comic-relief stinger delivered by Stark's longtime friend and fellow crime fighter James Rhodes (Don Cheadle).

"I think it's a testament to the way this movie is made," Cheadle said.

"We're always pulling the sentiment out right from under. That could have been framed around that moment. But, no. 'Just poke a pin in that. Let's just move on."'

- AP