Daniel Day-Lewis, the three-time Academy Award winner who announced his retirement from acting in 2017, is set to return to the screen in Anemone, a family drama written and directed by his son, Ronan Day-Lewis. The film marks a significant reunion of craft and family, bringing one of cinema’s most respected actors back after an eight-year absence.
Anemone will be Ronan Day-Lewis’s feature debut as a filmmaker. With a background in fine art and visual storytelling, he brings a painter’s eye to the screen, shaping a narrative that examines the complicated terrain of family estrangement. The story centers on two brothers—one a reclusive hermit living deep in the forests of Northern England, played by Daniel Day-Lewis, and the other, portrayed by Sean Bean, who ventures into the wilderness seeking reconciliation. The supporting cast includes Samantha Morton, Samuel Bottomley, and Safia Oakley-Green.
Early images from the production show Day-Lewis in full character, sporting a rugged mustache and weathered clothing, his gaze lifted toward the canopy above. The setting is lush and untamed, mirroring the emotional complexity of the story. At its core, Anemone explores the aftershocks of personal and political violence, and how unresolved pain can reverberate across decades, shaping lives and relationships long after the original wounds were inflicted.
The film is slated to have its world premiere at the New York Film Festival on September 26, with a limited U.S. theatrical release beginning October 3 before expanding nationwide on October 10. International release plans are expected to follow.
Day-Lewis’s decision to step away from acting in 2017 came after his performance in Phantom Thread, a role widely praised for its depth and nuance. At the time, he described the choice to retire as final, retreating from public life and making only rare appearances in the years that followed. The announcement of his return has generated significant anticipation, both for the rarity of a new Day-Lewis performance and for the unique dynamic of working under the direction of his son.
For Ronan Day-Lewis, Anemone represents the culmination of years spent developing a distinct artistic voice. Collaborating with his father provided an opportunity to merge that vision with one of the most acclaimed talents in film, creating a project defined by trust, intimacy, and shared creative purpose. The result is expected to be a deeply personal work that reflects both the universality of family conflict and the specificity of its characters’ emotional journeys.
Partners on the production include Focus Features and Plan B Entertainment, ensuring that the film will receive a wide platform and strong visibility during the fall season. With its premiere scheduled just ahead of awards season, Anemone is already being discussed as a potential contender, fueled by the stature of its leading man and the promise of its director’s debut.
For audiences who have followed Day-Lewis’s career—from his early turns in My Beautiful Laundrette and A Room with a View, to his towering performances in My Left Foot, There Will Be Blood, and Lincoln—this return feels like a rare gift. Known for his method approach, immersive preparation, and extraordinary selectivity in choosing roles, Day-Lewis has long been regarded as an actor who can transform completely into his characters. That same commitment, now brought to a story crafted with his own son, adds another layer of intrigue to his comeback.
As Anemone approaches its debut, filmgoers and industry observers alike are watching to see how one of cinema’s most enigmatic figures will re-enter the spotlight. Whether it marks a brief reappearance or the beginning of a new chapter, the film stands as both an artistic collaboration and a personal milestone—a merging of family ties and creative ambition that promises to resonate long after the lights come up.
