Danny Boyle to direct 2012 Olympics opening ceremony
Danny Boyle (L) at the 3 Mills Studios.
Oscar-winning filmmaker Danny Boyle will be artistic director for the London 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony, organisers have announced. The Slumdog Millionaire director said he was "honoured" by his appointment.
Boyle said it was a "unique opportunity to contribute to what I'm sure are going to be a fantastic Games." Director Stephen Daldry is one of four other "creatives" who will oversee the Olympic and Paralympic Games' opening and closing ceremonies.
Beijing 2008 Games designer Mark Fisher, TV director Hamish Hamilton and producer Catherine Ugwu will also be part of the team.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Boyle said his job was "to provide a thrilling, enthralling, captivating evening."
"Hopefully it'll take its place in the list of openings, but it'll be a new beginning as well."
Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, said: "The opening and closing ceremonies are the jewels in the crown of any Olympics and Paralympics and are one of the benchmarks against which all games are judged.”
His sentiments were echoed by the Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who said the "brilliant" team had brought together "some of the most imaginative people in the world".
3 Mills Studios in East London will be the production centre for the London 2012 Ceremonies.
Boyle began his career in theatre before moving into television and movies like Shallow Grave, The Beach and 28 Days Later. This winter the 53-year-old will make his National Theatre debut directing a new production of Frankenstein.
Zhang Yimou, China's most famous filmmaker, directed the opening ceremony for the Beijing Games in 2006.
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