Inside Daniel Day-Lewis’ ‘Much-Anticipated Comeback’ to Acting in His Son’s New Movie

Daniel Day-Lewis is all about family these days, as evidenced by his decision to come out of retirement and act in his son’s new movie – and an insider says he’s mapping out a succession plan that will ensure his legacy lives on way into future generations.

“Daniel’s ‘retirement’ in 2017/2018 always had an asterisk next to it, since everybody knew he was never going to abandon movies forever when his wife and kids continued to have an extreme professional interest in the movie business and of course, in collaborating more with Daniel,” an insider exclusively tells Closer.

The source adds that Daniel, 67, “has quietly worked over the last few years” to figure out “how to mount a financially successful indie film without the interference of a studio.”

The Academy Award winner made his most recent acting appearance in 2017’s Phantom Thread before his team announced he would be stepping back from show business.

“Daniel Day-Lewis will no longer be working as an actor,” his rep, Leslee Dart, told Variety in June 2017. “He is immensely grateful to all of his collaborators and audiences over the many years. This is a private decision and neither he nor his representatives will make any further comment on this subject.”

Much to the delight of his fans, he’s finally back in action as an actor seven years later. Daniel will appear in Focus Features and Plan B’s upcoming film, Anemone, which will mark the directorial debut of his son Ronan Day-Lewis.

“We could not be more excited to partner with a brilliant visual artist in Ronan Day-Lewis on his first feature film alongside Daniel Day-Lewis as his creative collaborator,” Focus Features chairman Peter Kujawski said in a statement in October. “They have written a truly exceptional script, and we look forward to bringing their shared vision to audiences alongside the team at Plan B.”

A synopsis of the film on IMDb says, “Family bonds between fathers, sons and brothers are explored as complex relationships unfold through personal journeys and generational conflicts.”

Daniel shares Ronan, 26, and son Cashel with wife Rebecca Miller. He is also a dad to son Gabriel, whom he shares with ex Isabelle Adjani.

“Daniel has found that the best thing a little movie can have on its side is a world-famous actor in the cast!” the source tells Closer of Daniel’s return to the movie industry. “The timing here is what’s really telling because Daniel has saved his much-anticipated comeback for a family project that he’s also helping out with behind the scenes.”

This isn’t the first time Daniel has collaborated with one of his family members on a project.

“Of course, he did this once before with his wife Rebecca’s movie The Ballad of Jack and Rose but it’s a whole different thing to be directed by your son instead of your wife, and Daniel absolutely worships his children,” the insider adds. “Getting back in, on this movie and in this way, was never going to be a difficult decision for him!”