None other than James Bond himself (Daniel Craig) escorted Her Majesty the Queen to the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics in London today.  We previously reported Craig’s appearance alongside the Queen back in April, but a poorly timed release on April Fool’s Day had people second-guessing the story’s authenticity.  Now that the 2012 Olympics have officially opened (unless you’re stateside where NBC is still waiting to air it), we’re proof positive that Craig escorted Her Majesty safely to the games.  Hit the jump to see footage from Danny Boyle’s short film introducing Craig and the Queen as well as kicking off the 2012 Olympics.

The 2012 Olympic Games in London are getting a little help from a familiar friend.  After receiving a personal invitation from the Queen herself, Daniel Craig agreed to, and shot, an introduction to the upcoming summer Olympics for director Danny Boyle.  The Slumdog Millionaire helmer has been busy putting together the Opening Ceremonies, and apparently Bond/Craig will play a part in the opening video entitled “The Arrival.”  Sequences were shot at Buckingham palace, and rumors abound that the Queen herself will be making an appearance.

Craig’s involvement was first reported by The Sun on Sunday, but it was April Fools’ Day and all so we were hesitant to take the story at face value.  Nevertheless, it now appears that a Bond-infused Olympics is definitely on.  If you want to read details regarding Craig’s stunt-filled role in the video, hit the jump.

The 2012 Olympics are coming down the pike with English director Danny Boyle (28 Days Later) serving as creative director of the opening ceremonies in London. Because once you’ve shut the city down and maestro-ed a mob of rabid pseudo-zombies through its streets, a bunch of athletes waving flags or whatever is child’s play.

Speaking to the press today, Boyle unveiled that his plans for the commencement would be heavily inspired by The Tempest, an announcement that was met with considerable belligerence and numerous faintings amongst the assembled mob, until the Oscar-winner clarified that he did not mean the 2010 Julie Taymor film. Rather, the £27-million opener (dubbed “Isles of Wonder”) will channel the classic Shakespearean play, specifically the character Caliban’s opening speech. Hit the jump for more from Boyle on what to expect on the big day.

The biggest constant in Danny Boyle’s career is change.  The 54-year-old director left a successful run in British theater and television to tackle a striking range of genres on film: horror, romantic comedy, family drama, thriller, dark comedy, among others.  This weekend’s limited release of his real-life man vs. nature film, 127 Hours, marked the first time Boyle has let one actor fully drive a film.  The venture paid off with a lead performance from James Franco that is getting rave reviews and the lion’s share of early buzz for the upcoming awards season.

This will also be the Oscar winner’s last directorial effort on film for some time.  Boyle is the artistic director of the 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremony and will smooth that transition from film to live events with a return to theater as the director of a new adaptation of Frankenstein at the Royal National Theatre in England.  He recently gave Collider a host of new details on the play, how 127 Hours was inspired by Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler, revelations about his real-life subject Aron Ralston and why Slumdog Millionaire is far from his last production in India.  Hit the jump for the full audio and transcription.