The filmmaker that shocked audiences with Trainspotting and 28 Days Later, then tugged at their heart strings with Millions and Slumdog Millionaire, is now being tapped to wow a much larger audience in an entirely different way. Yep, Danny Boyle may direct the opening ceremonies for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

When Boyle will find time for this, I don’t know. He just wrapped 127 Hours (which he shot in Utah with James Franco) and has three new projects on deck (including a possible third film in the 28 series). Still, a recent article by Times Online makes it sound as though it is all but a done deal:

A senior source closely involved in planning the Games said Boyle was a favoured candidate because of his creative panache. “We want the most imaginative ceremony the world has ever seen.”

Another source said that while “nothing has been signed yet, we fully expect him to do it.”

Boyle said, “I can’t say any more, [but] it would be lovely, wouldn’t it?”

Would it? Don’t get me wrong, I love Boyle’s films (I mean, I even like The Beach), and while I can’t think of a better-qualified British filmmaker, I question what exactly qualifies a filmmaker to direct such an event in the first place. The jobs are really very different. In fact, I think a Broadway theater director would be more adept at a task like this. You know, someone that knows how to run a massive machine of sets and costumes and people, but doing it seamlessly, live, on the day? As we saw with the awkward opening ceremonies in Vancouver this year, you don’t get another take if something is slightly off.

Of course, iconic film figures have been tapped for Olympic events in the past. The first two that come to mind are John Williams writing music for the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City and Zhang Yimou directing the 2008 opening ceremonies in Beijing. Both were widely considered great successes, so… maybe I am wrong. If nothing else, this might make up for Canada’s failure to utilize David Cronenberg, Guy Maddin, or Bruce McDonald at Vancouver 2010.