When M. Night Shyamalan wrapped up his gritty superhero trilogy with Glass in 2019, he delivered a finale that left audiences divided. Critics were split on the film, which brought together Bruce Willis's David Dunn, James McAvoy's Kevin Crumb, and Samuel L. Jackson's Elijah Price for a final, tragic showdown. But for Shyamalan, the ending was never just about closure—it was about launching a new era of superheroes.
In a recent conversation at Beyond Fest, Shyamalan shared his vision for what the world looks like after the events of Glass. The film's climax sees the trio die, but not before Elijah's plan succeeds: their powers are revealed to the world via a livestreamed security feed, proving that superhumans exist. For Shyamalan, that revelation is just the beginning.
A World Awakens
Shyamalan explained that the ending was designed to show the birth of an entire universe of heroes. "The thesis was that so many more wake up," he said. "So many more hear that little calling and that little itch that they were ignoring, or thought they were crazy, that they have an intuition, or they could do this thing that seemed incredible, and they dismissed it. They actively go at it to see if they're one of these people."
In other words, the public revelation of David, Kevin, and Elijah's abilities would inspire countless others who had always felt different to explore their own potential. But that awakening wouldn't come without chaos. As humanity grapples with the existence of superhumans, the world would be thrown into uncertainty, with people trying to figure out who else might be hiding extraordinary abilities.
No More Sequels
Despite the endless possibilities this new world presents, Shyamalan has no plans to revisit it. When asked about the potential for more entries in the Unbreakable universe, he was definitive: "I don't think so." Part of that reluctance stems from the absence of Bruce Willis, whose character didn't survive Glass. But Shyamalan also feels that the trilogy accomplished what it set out to do—telling an origin story that leaves audiences to imagine what comes next.
Fans of Shyamalan's work can still revisit the trilogy, as Glass is currently streaming on Peacock. And for those hungry for more of his signature twists, his other films like Signs and After Earth are also available on streaming platforms.
While the Unbreakable universe may be closed, Shyamalan's ending leaves a powerful question hanging in the air: what would you do if you discovered you had superpowers? It's a thought-provoking conclusion to a trilogy that always aimed to ground superhero mythology in reality.
