August 21, 2025 — After an eight-year absence from the screen, acclaimed actor Daniel Day-Lewis is set to return in the gripping new thriller Anemone, directed by his son, Ronan Day-Lewis. The first trailer, released today, marks a highly anticipated cinematic moment for fans and the film industry alike.
According to People, the three-time Oscar winner is leaving retirement behind to star in Anemone, his first acting role since Phantom Thread in 2017. The film is also Ronan Day-Lewis’s directorial debut—and a deeply personal, collaborative venture.
The trailer prompts a haunting, emotionally raw atmosphere: Day-Lewis portrays Ray Stoker, a reclusive hermit living deep in the woods. When his estranged brother Jem, played by Sean Bean, arrives seeking reconciliation, decades of unresolved trauma and violence come to light.
As The Playlist reports, the film unfolds in Northern England, weaving together a story of fractured familial bonds and the echoes of political turmoil. The cinematography and cast—including Samantha Morton, Samuel Bottomley, and Safia Oakley-Green—add further emotional depth to this powerful reunion.
Anemone is produced by Focus Features in partnership with Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment. It will premiere at the 2025 New York Film Festival, followed by a limited U.S. theatrical release on October 3, expanding nationwide from October 10.
This comeback marks more than a return to film—it’s a legacy project combining performance, personal history, and artistic vision. As Paste highlighted, the trailer leans toward psychological horror: stark landscapes, childhood war drawings, and surreal imagery (including a haunting shot of a bloated fish) weave into Ray’s isolation. The final chilling exchange—“You’re going to hell, brother.” “Family reunion.”—leaves an icy impression.
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Key Highlights
Detail Info
Actor Daniel Day-Lewis returns after retiring post-2017’s Phantom Thread
Film Anemone, directed and co-written by Ronan Day-Lewis, co-written with his father
Co-star Sean Bean plays Ray’s estranged brother, Jem
Supporting cast Samantha Morton, Samuel Bottomley, Safia Oakley-Green
Premiere & Release Dates NYFF premiere; limited release October 3, wide release October 10
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With its intense emotional core, painterly visuals, and the weight of a legendary actor’s return, Anemone promises to be one of the most compelling films of the
year—a true cinematic event.

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