Daniel Day-Lewis ends acting retirement for a movie directed by his son

3 Oct 2024

Daniel Day-Lewis is making a return to acting seven years after his most recent film, this time in a project directed by his son, Ronan Day-Lewis.

Daniel Day-Lewis - Figure 1 — Photo NBC Southern California

On Tuesday, Focus Features and Plan B revealed their collaboration on “Anemone.” This film marks Ronan Day-Lewis' first time directing, and it will feature his father in the cast, alongside Sean Bean and Samantha Morton. The screenplay for the movie was co-written by both Ronan and his father.

On Tuesday morning, Daniel Day-Lewis and Bean were seen riding a motorcycle around Manchester, England, which has sparked curiosity regarding his possible comeback to the acting scene. Following his role in Paul Thomas Anderson's 2017 movie "Phantom Thread," the 67-year-old announced his retirement from acting.

“I've always said I should give up acting, but for some reason, this time felt different. The urge to quit really settled in me, and it turned into something I felt I had to do,” he shared with W Magazine in 2017.

Daniel Day-Lewis - Figure 2 — Photo NBC Southern California

Since that time, he hasn't been seen in public very often. However, he did unexpectedly show up at the National Board of Review Awards in January, where he handed out an award to Martin Scorsese. Scorsese directed him in both “Gangs of New York” (2002) and “The Age of Innocence” (1993).

"Anemone," which is currently being produced, focuses on the complex connections that exist between fathers, sons, and brothers, as well as the nature of family relationships.

Ronan Day-Lewis, 26 years old, is an artist known for his paintings, which he has showcased in New York. He will have his first solo exhibition abroad opening this Tuesday in Hong Kong.

"We are thrilled to team up with the incredibly talented visual artist Ronan Day-Lewis for his debut feature film, working alongside Daniel Day-Lewis as a creative partner," said Peter Kujawski, chair of Focus Features. "They have crafted an outstanding script, and we can't wait to showcase their collective vision to audiences with the help of the Plan B team."