Anemone Trailer: Daniel Day-Lewis Back to Screen After 8 Yrs

After well over eight years of absence from cinema, the most revered actor of his generation, Daniel Day-Lewis is returning to acting.  The three-time Oscar winner, who claimed he was retiring after Phantom Thread released in 2017, has been cast in Anemone, a drama that will be directed by his son Ronan Day-Lewis.  The world has seen the first trailer, and there is already worldwide buzz about the film.

Daniel Day-Lewis Steps Back Into Cinema After 8 Years

Daniel Day-Lewis has always been known for having a selective approach to acting. Most actors in Hollywood take different projects based on their commercial potential. Day-Lewis would get fully engrossed into a few intricate characters, rather than maximizing on the exposure and business side of acting. The announcement of his retirement in 2017 was a shock to audiences and critics by his actions, as many critics were thinking his retirement would be permanent.

Currently, his latest film Anemone is seen as not only another performance, it is a personal and artistic collaboration with his son, which has the bedrock of significance behind it. People are not simply excited to see him again on screen, they are anticipating a collective artistic vision of a family brought to screen.

The Heart of the Anemone Story

The movie depicts Ray Stoker, played by Daniel Day-Lewis, a man who has isolated himself from society. However, everything changes when his estranged brother Jem, played by Sean Bean, visits him, forcing the two men to confront trauma and secrets from their past.

Anemone, set in the sprawling landscapes of Yorkshire, is both intimate and haunting. The trailer indicated compelling imagery — wide shots of deserted countryside, spectral sketches and hints of memories from the famous wartime past, and the unnerving images of Day-Lewis’s character with a rotting fish floating past him — suggest that it is a film reliant on pseudo-realism suffused with surreal and dreamlike storytelling.

A Father and Son Collaboration

Anemone’s partnership behind the camera is significant. The screenplay was jointly written by Daniel and Ronan Day-Lewis and is a family project. For Ronan, who went from being a painter to a filmmaker, this is his first feature as a director. 

The collaboration represents a merging of generations – Daniel’s decades of mastery as an actor with Ronan’s new artistic vision. The father-son relationship creates an intimacy for the audience not usually seen with feature films. It also exemplifies Daniel Day-Lewis’ lifelong dedication to considering acting a craft instead of just a profession in film.

Who Is Ronan Day-Lewis?

For many moviegoers who may not know much about Ronan Day-Lewis, this film will be their introduction to him. Born in 1998, Ronan started up painting and was studying fine arts before shifting into cinema, and he has mentioned in interviews in the past that he was also interested in exploring storytelling through images. His debut - "Anemone", is being noted by the industry as he begins his career as a director.

The fact that Ronan's very first feature is starring his father makes it even more remarkable. Early responses are indicating Anemone is not simply going to be a "family project" — it is serious art with notable producers and distributors involved.

The Powerhouse Team Bringing Anemone to Life

Anemone is produced by Focus Features and Plan B Entertainment, the production company Brad Pitt co-founded. Plan B has a history of producing award winning films like Moonlight and 12 Years a Slave, so they're no strangers to high expectation.

Yet, this unique combination of a veteran production company, a prestigious actor coming out of retirement, and a first time director has created an unusual, yet powerful brew that critics have already found appealing, even before getting a chance to see the film itself.

Anemone Premiere and Release Dates Revealed

The film is set to have its world premiere at the New York Film Festival in September of 2025.  After that, it will have a limited release in the U.S on October 3, 2025 then in a larger release on October 10, 2025. 

Because of the release schedule and the free weight of Daniel Day-Lewis's return, many experts believe that Anemone will be an early awards-season player.

Why Anemone Could Be the Most Important Film of 2025

Daniel Day-Lewis is one of the most serious and chameleonic actors in cinema, obsessively committing to each role. It has been six years since we last saw him on screen and many could not fill that space.

The importance of this return is multifaceted for not just film lovers, but for the cultural moment with respect to acting. There is anticipation from audiences to see if this will not only be a departure but if in fact he will take on the bigger question of if there will be another chapter in his career.

The added dimension of working with his son makes Anemone more than simply another film; it feels like an emotional and symbolic passing of the baton, a unique blending of personal and professional lives that few actors of his prestige have even attempted.

Final Word

Anemone is poised to be one of the most-discussed movies of 2025. It's not just a major comeback for an actor many think is the top of his generation, but the debut of a director who's making a statement with an unusually intimate story. With its powerful visuals, remarkable cast, and the emotional resonance that comes from the family collaboration, it could be an artistic triumph, and seriously achievable, soulmate experience for viewers.

Source(Image / Thumbnail): variety.com