Daniel Day-Lewis Sets Acting Return With ‘Anemone’ for Son Ronan

Daniel Day-Lewis is making his return to feature acting with his son at the helm.

Day-Lewis is set to star in the film Anemone from first-time director Ronan Day-Lewis. Hailing from Focus Features and Plan B, the movie marks Daniel Day-Lewis’ first acting role since 2017’s Phantom Thread, which the Oscar-winning performer had said would be his final project before retiring.

The father and son duo co-wrote the script that explores family bonds, specifically those involving fathers, sons and brothers. Sean Bean, Samantha Morton, Samuel Bottomley and Safia Oakley-Green round out the cast.

“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.”

Among the creative team are director of photography Ben Fordesman, costume designer Jane Petrie and production designer Chris Oddy. 

Universal Pictures International will distribute internationally for Focus.

Ronan Day-Lewis, 26, is a filmmaker and painter whose upcoming solo exhibition debuts in Hong Kong on Wednesday.

Daniel Day-Lewis is a three-time Oscar-winning actor who is considered among the best of his generation. He won the Academy Award for best actor for My Left Foot, There Will Be Blood and Lincoln.

He also earned Oscar nominations for his roles in In the Name of the Father, Gangs of New York and Phantom Thread.

In a statement issued in 2017, Day-Lewis announced his retirement from the craft. “Daniel Day-Lewis will no longer be working as an actor,” the message read at the time. “He is immensely grateful to all of his collaborators and audiences over the many years.”