Focus Features

Daniel Day-Lewis returns to acting in grippingly intense 'Anemone' trailer

By Chris Morgan | Last updated Aug 21, 2025 4:56 PM ET

You’ve probably heard of this guy Daniel Day-Lewis. Three-time Academy Award winner for Best Actor. Creator of some of cinema’s most indelible performances. After years of retirement, Day-Lewis has been lured back to the screen by the chance to work with his son, Ronan, on Ronan’s directorial debut. The film, 'Anemone,' was co-written by the Day-Lewis duo, with Daniel starring alongside Sean Bean. And because Daniel Day-Lewis is in it, the film is already in the Oscar conversation—he’s been nominated six times, after all. Now we have our first trailer for 'Anemone,' offering the first glimpse of Day-Lewis on screen since 2017’s 'Phantom Thread.'

Get hyped, stay hyped. The idea of Daniel Day-Lewis acting again was enough to spark excitement, but it came with some questions. His son Ronan is making his directorial debut, and you could wonder if the elder Day-Lewis was simply lending his name to help get the project off the ground.

Maybe the trailer was cut to perfection, but 'Anemone' looks legitimately strong. It comes across as well-crafted and grippingly intense. Daniel Day-Lewis can deliver intensity in his sleep, yet the footage suggests he hasn’t lost a step during his years away from acting.

The film opens in limited release Oct. 3 before expanding nationwide Oct. 10, a sign of confidence in its potential. It will also play at the New York Film Festival, meaning buzz will start before audiences at large get to weigh in. 'Anemone' is no mere curiosity. This time, nepotism may have produced a gift.

Chris Morgan

Chris Morgan is a Detroit-based culture writer who has somehow managed to justify getting his BA in Film Studies. He has written about sports and entertainment across various internet platforms for years and is also the author of three books about '90s television.

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