First Look at a Gripping Drama ‘Anemone’: Daniel Day-Lewis Returns to the Screen After Eight Years

Daniel Day-Lewis is stepping back into the spotlight after eight years away from acting. His new film, Anemone, will have its world premiere at the 63rd New York Film Festival before opening in select U.S. theaters on October 3, 2025. A week later, it will expand nationwide.

This project is a family affair. Anemone is directed by Daniel’s son, Ronan Day-Lewis, who also co-wrote the script with his father. The film dives deep into the emotional connections between brothers, fathers, and sons, exploring how those relationships can be both complicated and profound.

Alongside Daniel Day-Lewis, the cast includes Sean Bean, Samantha Morton, Samuel Bottomley, and Safia Oakley-Green.

The film marks Daniel’s first role since Phantom Thread in 2017, which was widely believed to be his final performance after he announced his retirement. In September 2024, the news broke that he would return to the screen for Anemone.

Ronan, making one of his biggest directing moves to date, was already attached to the project. Costume design is by Jane Petrie, while Chris Oddy serves as production designer, helping bring the period details of the story to life. Now first photo from the movie has been released, you can check it out below:

Production began in Manchester on October 1, 2024. Filming later moved to Handbridge in Chester, where the crew ran into an unusual problem. Several 1980s prop vehicles, parked along double-yellow lines for the shoot, ended up getting real parking tickets. A spokesperson for Cheshire West and Chester Council explained that permission had been given for technical support vehicles to park in restricted areas, but this didn’t apply to the prop cars.

They also confirmed that a request for a full road closure during filming had been rejected, saying it was considered “too disruptive” for local residents.

The involvement of Sean Bean and Samantha Morton adds even more star power to the cast. Bean, known for roles in Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings, has a long history of bringing complex characters to the screen. Morton, an acclaimed actress with Academy Award nominations, brings her own depth and intensity to the project.

Younger talents like Samuel Bottomley and Safia Oakley-Green round out the cast, likely bringing fresh energy to the family drama.

While the plot is being kept under wraps, the creative team has emphasized that Anemone is about relationships, heritage, and the emotional ties that shape people’s lives. With the combined talents of Daniel and Ronan Day-Lewis at the center, expectations are high for a deeply personal story.

After premiering at the New York Film Festival, the movie will roll out slowly to theaters, starting with a limited release in early October before going wide on October 10. For fans of Daniel Day-Lewis, this marks a long-awaited return to acting from one of cinema’s most celebrated performers. And for Ronan Day-Lewis, it could be a defining moment in his career as a filmmaker.

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