Film-maker Christopher Nolan has credited the James Bond franchise with providing inspiration for his sci-fi thriller Inception.

The director grew up watching the superspy series and insists the action scenes and themes found in 007 films influenced his upcoming movie, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a skilled thief who steals secrets from dreamers' subconscious minds.

Nolan explains, "The Bond influence on the film was very intentional because, for me, growing up with the Bond films - they've always stood for grand-scale action (and) stood for the promise of being taken to some place bigger than you could have imagined.
 
"In dealing with the human mind and dreams, my mind naturally gravitates towards the Bond films as that sort of expression of cinematic potential. By the end of the film you feel that Inception could go anywhere and do anything."