Cinema’s most elusive legend is back. Daniel Day-Lewis, the three-time Oscar winner who shocked Hollywood by retiring eight years ago, has emerged from his self-imposed exile with the first tantalizing glimpse of Anemone, a deeply personal family drama that marks not only his return to acting but also the directorial debut of his son, Ronan Day-Lewis.
The entertainment industry collectively held its breath when Focus Features unveiled the first official image, revealing Day-Lewis in his most transformative role yet – that of a man coaxed back to the screen by his own flesh and blood, marking the end of one of cinema’s most talked-about retirements in this extraordinary father-son collaboration that promises to be one of the most significant cinematic events of 2025.
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The Impossible Return: Breaking an Eight-Year Silence
When Daniel Day-Lewis announced his retirement in 2017, following the release of Paul Thomas Anderson’s Phantom Thread, many believed it was final. Before the film’s release, the actor had issued a statement: “Daniel Day-Lewis will no longer be working as an actor. He is immensely grateful to all of his collaborators and audiences over the many years. This is a private decision and neither he nor his representatives will make any further comment on this subject.”
The finality of that statement seemed absolute, yet here we are in 2025, witnessing what many thought impossible. Daniel Day-Lewis, widely considered one of the greatest actors of his generation, is emerging from retirement after seven years away from the big screen. What could possibly convince the notoriously selective actor to break his own vow of creative silence?
A Family Affair: The Power of Bloodline
The answer lies in the most personal of circumstances – a collaboration with his son. He’s starring in Focus Features and Plan B’s upcoming film “Anemone,” which marks the directorial debut of his son, Ronan Day-Lewis. This isn’t merely a case of nepotism in Hollywood; it represents something far more profound – a creative dialogue between generations.
Daniel Day-Lewis and Ronan Day-Lewis co-wrote the film, described as an exploration of the intricate relationships between fathers, sons and brothers as well as the “dynamics of familial bonds.” The meta-narrative is impossible to ignore: a film about fathers and sons, written by a father and son, directed by the son, starring the father. It’s a circular artistic statement that transcends traditional filmmaking.
Ronan Day-Lewis: The Artist Behind the Camera
At 26 years old, Ronan Day-Lewis, 26, is a painter whose debut international solo exhibition opens on Oct. 2nd in Hong Kong before making stops in New York City and Los Angeles. This detail illuminates the artistic ecosystem that could convince Daniel Day-Lewis to return – his son isn’t merely trading on his father’s name but is an established visual artist in his own right.
The transition from painting to filmmaking for Ronan Day-Lewis suggests a sophisticated understanding of visual storytelling, potentially explaining why his father felt compelled to trust him with this deeply personal project. “We could not be more excited to partner with a brilliant visual artist in Ronan Day-Lewis on his first feature film alongside Daniel Day-Lewis as his creative collaborator,” Focus Features chairman Peter Kujawski said in a statement.
The First Look: A Transformed Icon
The recently released first-look image reveals a Daniel Day-Lewis unlike any we’ve seen before. Day-Lewis looks quite different in the first-look photo of Anemone compared to the last time he was seen onscreen as Reynolds Woodcock in Phantom Thread. Instead of wearing tailored suits and bow ties with his hair in a swept-back style, Anemone sees him sporting short gray hair, long sideburns, and a horseshoe mustache.
This physical transformation signals the depth of commitment Day-Lewis brings to every role, even after eight years away from the craft. The image shows him gazing skyward, with Sean Bean visible in the background, creating an atmospheric preview of the film’s contemplative tone.
Plot and Setting: A Journey into the Northern English Wilderness
Set in Northern England, the film follows a middle-aged man (Sean Bean) who “sets out from his suburban home on a journey into the woods, where he reconnects with his estranged hermit brother (Day-Lewis). Bonded by a mysterious, complicated past, the men share a fraught, if occasionally tender relationship — one that was forever altered by shattering events decades earlier.”
The synopsis reveals layers of meaning that extend beyond the surface narrative. The hermit brother role seems particularly fitting for Day-Lewis, who has spent the last eight years as something of a hermit himself, withdrawing from the public eye and the film industry. The official description of Anemone calls the film “an absorbing family drama … about lives undone by seemingly irreconcilable legacies of political and personal violence.”
Stellar Supporting Cast and Crew
Beyond the Day-Lewis dynasty, Anemone features a remarkable ensemble. The cast also includes Sean Bean, Samuel Bottomley, Safia Oakley-Green, and Samantha Morton. Sean Bean, a veteran of both blockbuster and art house cinema, brings gravitas to the role of the middle-aged man seeking reconciliation with his estranged brother.
Two-time Oscar nominee Samantha Morton adds another layer of prestige to the project, while the technical team promises exceptional craft. Ben Fordesman (“Love Lies Bleeding”) will serve as director of photography, with Jane Petrie (“The Crown”) handling costume designer and Chris Oddy (“Zone of Interest”) as production designer.
Festival Premiere and Release Strategy
The project from Focus Features is set to have its world premiere at the The New York Film Festival —which kicks off Sept. 26 and runs through Oct. 13. This prestigious platform underscores the film’s artistic ambitions and awards potential.
Following its festival debut, it will receive a limited theatrical release in the US on October 3rd, before expanding wide a week later on October 10th. This release strategy indicates Focus Features’ confidence in the film’s commercial and critical potential, positioning it perfectly for awards season consideration.
The Legacy Factor: Three-Time Oscar Winner Returns
His father is the only performer to ever win three best actor Oscars. Daniel Day-Lewis has been lauded for Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln,” Paul Thomas Anderson’s “There Will Be Blood,” and Jim Sheridan’s “My Left Foot.” He’s also received nominations for “Gangs of New York” and “In the Name of the Father.”
This unprecedented achievement in Oscar history adds weight to every project Day-Lewis chooses. His return automatically elevates Anemone into awards conversation, with industry watchers eager to see if the master can reclaim his throne after nearly a decade away.
Production Details and Industry Impact
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Director | Ronan Day-Lewis (debut) |
| Screenplay | Daniel Day-Lewis & Ronan Day-Lewis |
| Producers | Plan B Entertainment |
| Distributor | Focus Features (US), Universal (International) |
| Cinematographer | Ben Fordesman |
| Costume Designer | Jane Petrie |
| Production Designer | Chris Oddy |
Release Timeline and Milestones
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| September 26-October 13, 2025 | New York Film Festival World Premiere |
| October 2, 2025 | Ronan Day-Lewis art exhibition opens in Hong Kong |
| October 3, 2025 | Limited theatrical release in US |
| October 10, 2025 | Wide theatrical release in US |
| TBD | International release via Universal |
Critical Anticipations and Awards Potential
The film has already generated significant awards buzz before audiences have seen a single frame. The film has already garnered significant buzz and attention as an awards season contender, particularly for Day-Lewis’ return to acting. Industry experts are watching closely to see if Day-Lewis can continue his remarkable Oscar track record.
“An emotional powerhouse, this directorial debut is assured in both small details and grand gestures as it charts the path toward familial redemption against all odds. In addition to its unflinching lead performances, Anemone features standout supporting work from Samantha Morton and Samuel Bottomley, and sensationally expressive widescreen cinematography by Ben Fordesman.”
The Scorsese Connection and Future Possibilities
Interestingly, Day-Lewis’s return comes amid speculation about other potential collaborations. Daniel Day-Lewis attended the National Board of Review awards earlier this year and reunited with his “Gangs of New York” director Martin Scorsese, who stoked rumors about the actor possibly un-retiring for a future collaboration between them.
“We did two films together and it’s one of the greatest experiences of my life,” Scorsese said while accepting the best director prize for “Killers of the Flower Moon.” “Maybe there’s time for one more. Maybe! He’s the best.”
Thematic Resonance: Art Imitating Life
The thematic content of Anemone creates fascinating parallels with Day-Lewis’s own journey. The story of reconciliation between estranged brothers mirrors, in some ways, the actor’s reconciliation with his craft. The exploration of “familial bonds” takes on added significance when viewed through the lens of a real father-son creative partnership.
The setting in Northern England also holds potential biographical significance, connecting to Day-Lewis’s own British roots and his complex relationship with his homeland and craft. The “hermit brother” character seems almost too perfect a metaphor for Day-Lewis’s own withdrawal from Hollywood society.
Industry Reactions and Expectations
The announcement and first look have sent ripples through Hollywood, reminding the industry of what it lost when Day-Lewis stepped away. His meticulous approach to character preparation and his legendary intensity have become the stuff of industry folklore. He elaborated in an interview with W magazine, “I knew it was uncharacteristic to put out a statement. But I did want to draw a line. I didn’t want to get sucked back into another project. All my life, I’ve mouthed off about how I should stop acting, and I don’t know why it was different this time, but the impulse to quit took root in me, and that became a compulsion.”
A Cinematic Homecoming
Daniel Day-Lewis’s return in Anemone represents more than just the comeback of a great actor – it’s a meditation on legacy, family, and the inexorable pull of artistic expression. The first look offers a tantalizing glimpse of what promises to be one of 2025’s most significant films, combining the gravitas of cinema’s most committed performer with the fresh perspective of an emerging artist who happens to share his DNA.
As audiences prepare for this unprecedented father-son collaboration, Anemone stands as both a personal artistic statement and a potential masterpiece that could redefine the legacy of one of cinema’s greatest talents. The image of Day-Lewis gazing skyward seems to capture not just a character moment, but a metaphor for an artist returning to his calling – looking up toward possibilities that seemed forever lost, now miraculously reclaimed through the power of family and the enduring call of artistic expression.
FAQs
1. Why did Daniel Day-Lewis come out of retirement for Anemone? Daniel Day-Lewis returned to acting specifically for this father-son collaboration with his son Ronan Day-Lewis, who wrote and directed the film. The deeply personal nature of working with his own son on a story about family relationships appears to be what convinced him to break his eight-year retirement.
2. What is Anemone about and when will it be released? Anemone is a family drama set in Northern England about a middle-aged man (Sean Bean) who reconnects with his estranged hermit brother (Daniel Day-Lewis) in the woods. The film premieres at the New York Film Festival in September 2025, then releases in limited theaters October 3rd, expanding wide October 10th.
3. How many Oscar wins does Daniel Day-Lewis have? Daniel Day-Lewis is the only actor to win three Best Actor Academy Awards, winning for “My Left Foot” (1989), “There Will Be Blood” (2007), and “Lincoln” (2012). He has also received Oscar nominations for “In the Name of the Father” and “Gangs of New York.”
4. Who else is in the cast of Anemone besides Daniel Day-Lewis? The cast includes Sean Bean in the co-lead role, two-time Oscar nominee Samantha Morton, Samuel Bottomley, Safia Oakley-Green, and Adam Fogerty. The film is produced by Plan B Entertainment and distributed by Focus Features.
5. What does Daniel Day-Lewis look like in his return role? The first-look images show Day-Lewis dramatically transformed from his previous role in “Phantom Thread,” now sporting short gray hair, long sideburns, and a horseshoe mustache, reflecting his character as a hermit living in the Northern English wilderness.
