Daniel Day Lewis pictured alongside Sean Bean in long-awaited film return ‘Anemone’

The first image of Anemone, the new film starring Daniel Day-Lewis, has been released ahead of its debut at the New York Film Festival.

• READ MORE: ‘Phantom Thread’ – Film Review

The Oscar winner retired from acting in 2017 after working with Paul Thomas Anderson on the drama Phantom Thread. At the time, he cited “sadness” as one of the reasons for stepping away, saying: “I need to believe in the value of what I’m doing. The work can seem vital. Irresistible, even. And if an audience believes it, that should be good enough for me. But, lately, it isn’t”.

He has been drawn back to cinema to collaborate with his son, Ronan Day-Lewis, who is directing the film and co-writing with his father.

The film stars Sean Bean as a man who travels into Northern England’s woods to reconnect with his estranged brother (Daniel Day-Lewis), who lives as a hermit. The film is set to premiere at New York during the festival, which runs from September 26 to October 13.

Three-time Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis returns to the screen with ANEMONE, directed by Ronan Day-Lewis. Also starring Sean Bean and Samantha Morton.
Premiering at this year’s New York Film Festival. #NYFF63 pic.twitter.com/8N9hVzRrha

— Focus Features (@FocusFeatures) August 12, 2025

Anemone will be released in US cinemas on October 3, with a UK date yet to be announced. Distributor Focus Features shared the first image from the film on X (formerly Twitter).

Considered one of the greatest screen actors of all time, Day-Lewis is known for classics such as Lincoln, There Will Be Blood, and Gangs Of New York. He is also known for his intense approach to his craft, based around method acting, as well as taking periods away from the profession.

Late last year, director Neil Jordan spoke about how the star was the studio’s choice to play Lestat in 1994’s Interview With The Vampire, the role eventually played by Tom Cruise. “Daniel was mentioned by the studio, but I never felt he would do it. I did send him the script, and unsurprisingly, he said he didn’t want to do a vampire film”.

In February, Timothée Chalamet said he is inspired by the actor in his quest “for greatness” during SAG awards acceptance speech

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