Director M Night Shyamalan has said the support of movie stars Bruce Willis and Samuel L Jackson helped to launch his career.

The filmmaker made his name in Hollywood with 1999 movie The Sixth Sense, which was led by Willis. A year later Jackson signed up to be directed in Unbreakable.

Speaking at the premiere of his new film Glass, Shyamalan said: “There was a real sense that their imprimatur really began my career.

“Those guys had no reason to just sign in with me, and do anything I said, and do the script that I wrote.”

Glass cast at premiere
M Night Shyamalan (l-r) Sarah Paulson, Bruce Willis, Samuel L Jackson, James McAvoy, and Anya Taylor-Joy attending the Glass European premiere (PA)

“They just allowed me to do it that way and really supported me,” he said of Willis and Jackson, who both appear in Glass

Shyamalan said that A-list backing allowed him to make a name with his own material.

“It’s important that I keep the accent on the things that I do,” he said.

“I have an accent.

“It’s something I do protect.”