Fans have praised the new trailer for Anemone, which marks Daniel Day-Lewis’s first acting role since retiring from the profession after 2017’s Phantom Thread.
Directed by the star’s son, Ronan, the film stars Sean Bean as a man who travels into Northern England’s woods to reconnect with his estranged brother (Day-Lewis), who lives as a hermit.
The multi-time Oscar winner was last seen in Paul Thomas Anderson’s drama Phantom Thread, after which he announced he would retire, citing “sadness” as the reason for stepping away. However, the new thriller seems to have brought him back to the big screen.
Set to ominous music and sharp editing, the trailer features Bean’s character Jem confronting Day-Lewis’ character Ray. It’s revealed Ray went into the woods to live alone 20 years prior, and it’s implied that his time fighting as a British soldier in Northern Ireland may have led to the decision. The film also features Oscar-nominated actor Samantha Morton, and was co-written by Ronan and Daniel Day-Lewis
On X (formerly Twitter), fans gave the clip a rapturous reception.
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“This is the kind of quality I expect from a film trailer in the year 2025. Epic,” wrote one, with another adding: “Great trailer. Definitely looking forward to seeing this.”
This is the kind of quality I expect from a film trailer in the year 2025.
Epic.
— Misch Strotz (@mitch0z) August 21, 2025
Great trailer. Definitely looking forward to seeing this.
— Tizoc Estrada (@TizocEstrada) August 22, 2025
The visual side of the film was also praised. “This looks fricken’ amazing. One of the finest actors of our time. And his son seems to have a keen eye for cinematography,” with another saying: “The photography is top tier. Great to see Daniel coming back!”
This looks fricken’ amazing. One of the finest actors of our time. And his son seems to have a keen eye for cinematography.
Also love the inverse thematic symmetry between his character in Gangs of New York and this new release, Anemone.
— 🍁📽️ Well Done Movies 📽️🍁🇨🇦 (@welldone_movies) August 22, 2025
The photography is top tier 👌🏻. Great to see Daniel coming back!
— Joseph (@eljosetm) August 21, 2025
Some made light-hearted jokes about Bean’s tendency to die on screen: “Spoiler alert: Strong chance Sean Bean dies in this movie”; while another poked fun at Day-Lewis’ prolonged absences between movies: “Daniel Day-Lewis has resurfaced to once again win academy awards and then go into hibernation for another decade.”
Spoiler alert:
Strong chance Sean Bean dies in this movie.
— Pro Football Pod (@ProFootball_Pod) August 21, 2025
Daniel Day-Lewis has resurfaced to once again win academy awards and then go into hibernation for another decade.
— JAKE OLIVER ELLENBOGEN (@JKBOGEN) August 21, 2025
Not everyone was excited, however, with one user shrugging: “Having watched the trailer I know nothing about that film and found nothing compelling about it. There are two great actors in it. Okay?”
Having watched the trailer I know nothing about that film and found nothing compelling about it.
There are two great actors in it. Okay?— Dr, Esquire, Revd Mal (@aimtomisb3hav3) August 21, 2025
Anemone will be released in US cinemas on October 3, and then in the UK on November 7.
Late last year, director Neil Jordan spoke about how Daniel Day-Lewis was the studio’s choice to play Lestat in 1994’s Interview With The Vampire, until the actor turned it down.
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