David Cronenberg says Martin Scorsese was ''terrified'' to meet him.

The 'Cosmopolis' and 'Existenz' director has revealed that his fellow filmmaker was scared during their initial meeting because of his prolific reputation for making dark, trouble movies.

However, Cronenberg found the Oscar-winning director's worries ironic because Scorsese himself is known for making brutal, violent gangster films.

He recalled to The Guardian newspaper: ''You have a public persona. It's out of control. I remember when Marty Scorsese confessed to me that he was terrified to meet me. And I said, 'You're the guy who made 'Taxi Driver' and you're afraid to meet me?'

''I thought if Marty could have that happen to him then it's understandable that anybody else could. People confuse you with your work. You make scary horror films, so you must be a scary, horrible person.''

Cronenberg recently directed 'Twilight' star Robert Pattinson in 'Cosmopolis' and will reunite with the actor for next year's 'Maps to the Stars', which will co-star Julianne Moore and Mia Wasikowska.

Meanwhile, Scorsese's next movie 'The Wolf of Wall Street' sees him once again team up with his long-time muse, Leonardo Dicaprio.