Daniel Day-Lewis Returning to Acting for ‘Anemone’

Ronan Day-Lewis is directing the new drama, which his father co-wrote and stars in alongside Sean Bean, Samantha Morton and Samuel Bottomley.

Daniel Day-Lewis presents during the live ABC Telecast of The 86th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, CA. Credit/Provider: Richard Harbaugh / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

Preview:

Daniel Day-Lewis will appear in a movie for the first time since 2017.
He’s co-written ‘Anemone’ with his son Ronan, who is also directing.
Sean Bean, Samantha Morton and Samuel Bottomley co-star.

With three Oscars under his belt and a long, successful career, Daniel Day-Lewis could be well forgiven for dedicating the rest of his days to other pursuits.

And indeed, it appeared he might be doing just that, having not graced screens since 2017’s ‘Phantom Thread,’ directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.

Phantom Thread

"Whatever you do, do it carefully."

R2 hr 10 minJan 19th, 2018

Showtimes & Tickets

Watch Phantom Thread Online

But when Day-Lewis was spotted by British tabloid newspapers apparently on location shooting a new movie, interest naturally peaked. Was he really back? Would it be a cameo?

Now, we have confirmation from Focus Features, which is backing the new film, titled ‘Anemone’ alongside production company Plan B.

But this isn’t just any movie –– it’s the directorial debut of Day-Lewis’ son Ronan Day-Lewis, and Daniel co-wrote the script with his son.

What’s the story of ‘Anemone’?

Daniel Day-Lewis presents an Oscar® during the live ABC Telecast of The Oscars® from the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, March 2, 2014. Credit/Provider: Michael Yada / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

There aren’t many official details yet, but the plot “explores the intricate relationships between fathers, sons, and brothers, and the dynamics of familial bonds.”

Focus Features Chairman Peter Kujawski shared his enthusiasm in a statement:

“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. They have written a truly exceptional script, and we look forward to bringing their shared vision to audiences alongside the team at Plan B.”

Ronan Day-Lewis is better known as an artist than a filmmaker at this point, though he did create 2018 short ‘The Sheep and the Wolf’ and the Sargasso music video ‘Snow and Sun.’ He’s known for his painting, which has been included in several public exhibitions over the past few years.

Who else stars in ‘Anemone’?

Sean Bean in 'Game of Thrones'. Photo: HBO.

The cast also includes Sean Bean, Samantha Morton, Samuel Bottomley and Safia Oakley-Green. Day-Lewis was spotted filming with Bean this week, which is likely why the statement was released. We’re fairly sure all involved might have wanted to wait until the first trailer.

Crew-wise, the movie features Director of Photography Ben Fordesman, Costume Designer Jane Petrie and Production Designer Chris Oddy.

Does this mean Daniel Day-Lewis is officially back?

The Oscar® for performance by an actor in a leading role goes to Daniel Day-Lewis for his role in “Lincoln” during The Oscars® from the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA, Sunday, February 24, 2013 live on the ABC Television Network. Credit/Provider: Michael Yada / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

That remains to be seen at this point –– while he’s clearly happy to work alongside his son, Day-Lewis has expressed little interest in otherwise getting back to work on a more regular basis.

But who knows? Perhaps this small taste will spark his desire to act more often again. Either that, or he’ll vanish back into the off-screen world in much the same way as Gene Hackman.

When will ‘Anemone’ be in theaters?

With shooting ongoing, there is no indication when ‘Anemone’ will arrive on screens, but if it turns out well, we could conceivably see it landing in a 2025 awards slot.

Actor Daniel Day-Lewis poses backstage with his Oscar® for performance by an actor in a leading role for his role in “Lincoln” during the live telecast on the ABC Television network from the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA, Sunday, February 24, 2013. Credit/Provider: Todd Wawrychuk / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.