Danny Boyle
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Danny Boyle (born 20th October 1956) is a film director and producer born in Manchester. He directed the cult films Shallow Grave (1994), Trainspotting (1996), A Life Less Ordinary (1997), The Beach (2000), 28 Days Later (2002), and Millions (2005).
He studied at Thornliegh Salesian College and the University of Wales, Bangor. Boyle first got attention in the UK for directing a number of distinguished productions for the British Television including Inspector Morse and Mr. Wroe's Virgins.
He is typically known to work with writer John Hodge, producer Andrew Macdonald and actor Ewan McGregor. After the international attention gained by "Trainspotting" he hoped to gain a production deal with a major US studio but his only confirmed offer was the fourth film of the Alien franchise. Using British finance Boyle and Hodge made "A Life Less Ordinary" but the film's lack of a bankable star and obscure scenario resulted in a box office dud.
It was Ewan McGregor who first promoted an adaptation of the cult novel "The Beach" to Boyle but he then discovered that the studio wanted a more bankable star, and hired Leonardo Di Caprio without consulting Boyle, who had already promised McGregor the lead. The British media and tabloid press cannibalised the situation before Boyle could explain to McGregor and they have not worked together since.
Boyle then collaborated with "The Beach" author Alex Garland on post-apocalyptic zombie flick 28 Days Later. His versatility is demonstrated in his most recent work - the feel good family film Millions.
In between the two theatrical productions of The Beach and 28 Days Later, Boyle directed two TV movies for the BBC in 2001. They were Vacuuming Completely Nude In Paradise and Strumpet. He also directed a short film Alien Love Triangle starring Kenneth Branagh that was meant to be part of a feature film with two other shorts but the project was cancelled after the two other shorts were made into feature films. They became Mimic starring Mira Sorvino and Imposter starring Gary Sinise.
His next film will be Sunshine, a science-fiction film starring his 28 Days Later star Cillian Murphy.