Daniel Day-Lewis Officially Ends Retirement From Acting for Son’s Film ‘Anemone’

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. He’s starring in Focus Features and Plan B’s upcoming film “Anemone,” which marks the directorial debut of his son, Ronan Day-Lewis.

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.” Daniel Day-Lewis will lead the cast of “Anemone” his first acting gig since 2017’s “Phantom Thread,” alongside Sean Bean, Samantha Morton, Samuel Bottomley and Safia Oakley-Green. 

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

“Anemone” reunites Daniel Day-Lewis with Focus Features, the specialty studio behind “Phantom Thread.” Universal will release the film internationally. On “Anemone,” 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.   

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. 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.”

Daniel Day-Lewis announced he was quitting acting in 2017 ahead of the release of “Phantom Thread,” though he didn’t give a reason for his retirement. “He is immensely grateful to all of his collaborators and audiences over the many years,” a spokesperson for the actor said in a statement. This is a private decision and neither he nor his representatives will make any further comment on this subject.”

The actor later reflected on his decision to publicly announce his retirement, telling W magazine that “before making [‘Phantom Thread’], I didn’t know I was going to stop acting.” Part of the reason he made a statement on the matter was to hold himself accountable.

“I knew it was uncharacteristic to put out a statement,” Daniel Day-Lewis said. “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. It was something I had to do.”

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.”