Daniel Day-Lewis Breaks Eight-Year Retirement with First “Anemone” Trailer Premiere

August 22, 2025 – Daniel Day-Lewis, who has won three Oscars, is back! The first trailer for Anemone was released late Thursday night.

The family drama, directed and co-written by Ronan Day-Lewis, focuses on two estranged brothers. Their tense reunion takes place in the stormy woodlands of Northern England. Sean Bean stars as the suburban brother. He journeys into the wilderness to find Ray (Day-Lewis), a reclusive hermit with a haunting shared past.

In the tense, two-minute preview, viewers see dark coastal cliffs and dimly lit rooms. They also spot sketches of figures with Irish flags. These elements hint at the film’s themes of legacy and reconciliation. The trailer’s haunting score and brief dialogue point to a tale of grief and hidden violence.

““Ireland’s scars run deep, but its bonds do too,” says an intertitle. This sets the stage for a story about pain and the chance for forgiveness.

Produced by Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment, Anemone will premiere at the New York Film Festival on September 26. Then, it opens in limited U.S. theaters on October 3 and expands nationwide on October 10. Focus Features will distribute the film.

Critics have called it the “ultimate nepo-baby film.” Yet, the trailer leans more on mood than plot. This shows that Ronan Day-Lewis aims for atmosphere and character depth instead of just family connections.

At 68, Daniel Day-Lewis shines in Anemone. This role adds to his remarkable career, known for long breaks and strong comebacks. His last film was Paul Thomas Anderson’s Phantom Thread in 2017. It’s still unknown if this comeback will last or if it’s just a temporary phase.