If you live for Celebrity News and deep craft talk, HollywoodReviewz has the story that matters: Daniel Day-Lewis rediscovered his appetite for acting and stepped back onto the big screen with the Anemone film, a father–son collaboration that doubles as a mission statement. After announcing retirement in 2017, he returns with energy, purpose, and the kind of focus only he brings. At the New York Film Festival, he spoke about finding that spark again—grateful, candid, and ready to create.
The Comeback: Why Anemone Lit the Fuse
So, Is Daniel Day-Lewis coming back to acting? Yes—and with purpose. He stars in, and co-writes, the Anemone film, while his son Ronan Cal Day-Lewis directs. The project premiered at NYFF in late September 2025 and opened in U.S. theaters on October 3, with a wider expansion slated for the following week. The collaboration gave him a reason to return; he even joked that he’d “made a fool” of himself by announcing retirement and then reversing course—because this story with his son mattered more.
Setting the Record Straight: His Last Film Before the Break

You’ve asked often: what was the last film Daniel Day-Lewis made? That honor goes to Phantom Thread (2017). After that film, he announced he would no longer work as an actor, a decision his publicist called “private.” The break lasted eight years—until the father–son idea evolved into a feature and pulled him back.
What Anemone Is—and Why It Matters
Is Daniel Day-Lewis returning to acting with his son’s new film? Absolutely. What is Ronan Cal Day-Lewis’s new movie? It’s Anemone, a psychological drama they co-wrote, with Daniel playing Ray, a reclusive hermit pulled into a fraught family reckoning. The film marks Ronan’s feature directorial debut; early responses praise the performances and mood while debating the script’s risks. Distribution runs through Focus Features in the U.S., with theatrical first, then the expected Universal/Peacock window.
Craft First: Appetite, Not Spectacle
At NYFF, Day-Lewis said he felt “really grateful” to have found his appetite again—no stunt, no nostalgia tour. He wanted to build something honest, and doing it with Ronan paired legacy with discovery. For an artist who treats every role like a lived practice, that appetite drives the choices on set: voice, stillness, gesture, and the hard work of listening. Is Daniel Day-Lewis coming back to acting? Yes—and the intent looks serious.
Release Snapshot and Where to Watch

The Anemone film premiered at NYFF and rolled into theaters on October 3, 2025 in the U.S., with a broader rollout on October 10. As of now, it plays exclusively in theaters, with a likely digital purchase/rental window to follow and a Peacock streaming run afterward—typical for Focus/Universal titles. If you track Celebrity News, you’ll see platform updates quickly, but for now the big screen is the place to experience it.
FAQ’s
Q: what was the last film Daniel Day-Lewis made?
A: Phantom Thread (2017). That release preceded his 2017 retirement statement.
Q: Is Daniel Day-Lewis coming back to acting?
A: Yes. He returns with the Anemone film, co-written with his son and directed by Ronan Cal Day-Lewis.
Q: Is Daniel Day-Lewis returning to acting with his son’s new film?
A: Yes. The father–son team built Anemone together, and he credits that collaboration for reigniting his appetite.
Q: What is Ronan Cal Day-Lewis’s new movie?
A: Anemone—his feature debut as director, starring his father in the lead.
Conclusion:
Daniel Day-Lewis never chased fame—he chased truth. When the truth no longer sparked, he walked away. Now, with the Anemone film, he steps back in not to repeat old triumphs but to create something meaningful with his son. The return answers every fan question—what was the last film Daniel Day-Lewis made?, Is Daniel Day-Lewis coming back to acting?, Is Daniel Day-Lewis returning to acting with his son’s new film?, What is Ronan Cal Day-Lewis’s new movie?—with clarity and conviction.
His comeback proves that art finds its moment when passion returns. And for movie lovers, this isn’t just a headline in Celebrity News—it’s a rare chance to witness one of cinema’s greatest actors rediscover his appetite for storytelling. At HollywoodReviewz, we call that the comeback that matters.