Daniel Day-Lewis Seen Filming 7 Years After Announcing Retirement

Could Daniel Day-Lewis be putting a hiatus on his retirement? That's what new photos seem to suggest, as the three-time Academy Award-winning actor was seen looking nearly unrecognizable while filming a new movie this week.

In the photos, obtained by The Daily Mail, Day-Lewis was seen riding on a motorbike in Manchester on Tuesday with English actor Sean Bean (Game of Thrones) sitting on the back. The 67-year-old was wearing a khaki-colored jacket and white helmet in the photos, along with a grey handlebar mustache. The publication notes that there was a large film crew along the street for what was described as an "action-packed" scene.

Although there's no mention of the film online, the pair are reportedly filming an "under-the-radar" project called Avelyne. Deadline notes that the likelihood is that Day-Lewis was likely filming a cameo or a favor for a friend, as opposed to fully coming out of retirement. Reps for both actors were unavailable for comment.

Daniel Day-Lewis is back pic.twitter.com/3PKke6LwDQ

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Day-Lewis shocked fans when abruptly announcing his retirement in 2017, months ahead of the release of his last film, Phantom Thread, which reunited him with There Will Be Blood director Paul Thomas Anderson. He did not give a reason for the decision, releasing only a brief statement through his spokeswoman, Leslee Dart. 

"Daniel Day-Lewis will no longer be working as an actor," Dart said at the time. "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."

Even before fully retiring, Day-Lewis took a five year break from acting shortly after winning his third Best Actor Oscar for the 2012 biographical historical drama, Lincoln. "I don’t have any projects lined up—I haven’t got anything planned for a length of time," he told the Daily Star in 2013. "I can’t imagine what I would try to do after playing Lincoln."