Daniel Day-Lewis’ First Film in 8 Years, ‘Anemone,’ to World Premiere at NYFF — First Image Released

Daniel Day-Lewis is officially back.

The three-time Oscar winner, widely considered one of the greatest actors in cinema history, will break an eight-year hiatus with “Anemone” set to world premiere at the 63rd New York Film Festival.

Along with the announcement comes the film’s first image, a reminder of the gravitas that’s been missing from the big screen since 2017’s “Phantom Thread.” You can feel the intensity of his presence just by glancing at this one image.

“Anemone” marks the feature directorial debut of Day-Lewis’ son, painter and artist Ronan Day-Lewis, and will open in limited release on October 3 — right in the thick of awards season. Father and son co-wrote the script, which is being kept tightly under wraps but is described as exploring “the complex and profound ties that exist between brothers, fathers, and sons.”

Day-Lewis stars opposite Sean Bean, Samantha Morton, Samuel Bottomley, and Safia Oakley-Green, with Love Lies Bleeding’s Ben Fordesman serving as cinematographer. It’s a family affair, but also a potential awards player, given the pedigree both in front of and behind the camera.

Day-Lewis has “retired” twice before — first after 1996’s “The Boxer” when he famously apprenticed as a cobbler in Italy, and again following “Phantom Thread.” Last year, Martin Scorsese even teased that there might still be one more collaboration in their future.

Day-Lewis, a acting giant, has a handful of landmark performances in his filmography, including “There Will Be Blood,” “Gangs of New York,” “My Left Foot,” “Lincoln,” and “In the Name of the Father.”