Few announcements have stirred as much buzz this year as the return of Daniel Day-Lewis to the screen. After stepping away from acting in 2017, the three-time Oscar winner is back in Anemone, a drama that not only marks his comeback but also his first collaboration with his son, filmmaker Ronan Day-Lewis.
In Anemone, Daniel Day-Lewis plays Ray Stoker, a reclusive man whose quiet isolation is disrupted by the sudden reappearance of his estranged brother Jem, played by Sean Bean. Set against the stark landscapes of Northern England, the story traces the brothers’ uneasy reunion, exploring long-buried trauma, fractured family bonds, and the way past wounds echo into the present. It’s a film about fathers, sons, brothers—and the painful, sometimes redemptive work of reconnection.
Ronan Day-Lewis, making his feature directorial debut, co-wrote the screenplay with his father. That collaboration alone sets Anemone apart: a legendary actor returning to his craft under the guidance of his son, whose perspective and storytelling voice are just beginning to emerge. Together, they’ve shaped a story that threads intimate emotional detail with larger questions of political and personal upheaval.
The cast is equally compelling. Samantha Morton and rising talent Samuel Bottomley join the ensemble, with cinematographer Ben Fordesman providing the film’s atmospheric visuals. The result promises to be as immersive as it is emotionally raw.
Anemone is slated to premiere at the 2025 New York Film Festival before its U.S. release on October 3 (limited) and October 10 (wide). Produced by Focus Features, it is already being positioned as a deeply affecting entry into the year’s most anticipated dramas.
For fans of Daniel Day-Lewis, the film represents more than just a return—it’s a rare glimpse into an artist working in tandem with family, blending personal history with cinematic storytelling. If early descriptions are any indication, Anemone will be a haunting, unforgettable meditation on memory, trauma, and the fragile threads that hold families together.
