Daniel Day-Lewis, 67, makes unexpected return to acting 7 years after retiring

Daniel Day-Lewis was spotted back on a film set this week, marking his shocking return to acting.

The Oscar winner, 67, was photographed Sunday looking barely recognizable while driving a motorbike through the streets of Manchester, England, with actor Sean Bean behind him.

For the scene, filmed for a new movie called “Avelyn,” Day-Lewis was dressed in an olive green bomber jacket, black pants, brown boots and black gloves.

Daniel Day-Lewis has made his return to acting, as evidenced by this photo of him on a film set Sunday. / SplashNews.com The Oscar winner, seen here filming a scene with Sean Bean Sunday, retired from acting in 2017. / SplashNews.com

He also sported a white safety helmet, gold eyeglasses and a well-trimmed gray beard that contrasts the clean-shaven look he’s been rocking at recent Hollywood events.

Reps for Day-Lewis did not immediately respond when reached out for comment on whether this project marks the entertainer’s official acting comeback.

According to a local UK outlet, Bean, 65, plays the role of an ex-soldier and “Avelyn” is set in the ’80s.

Not much information is known about Day-Lewis’ part. The movie is not yet listed on his IMDB profile.

Day-Lewis, seen here in Manchester, England, filming a movie, has not made an official statement about coming out of retirement just yet. / SplashNews.com His current film is called “Avelyn,” and stars Sean Bean, seen here in a black jacket. / SplashNews.com Bean reportedly plays an ex-soldier. / SplashNews.com

In November 2017, the award-winning actor shared that his decision to retire had been somewhat abrupt.

 “[I] didn’t even know I was going to stop acting,” he confessed to W magazine at the time of his thought process prior to making what would’ve been his final film, “Phantom Thread.”

“I do know that [director] Paul [Thomas Anderson] and I laughed a lot before we made the movie. And then we stopped laughing because we were both overwhelmed by a sense of sadness.”

Day-Lewis, seen here with a film crew around him, quit acting after making “Phantom Thread.” / SplashNews.com Day-Lewis, seen here on set of “Avelyn” Sunday with Sean Bean, had been meeting with Hollywood execs, sources previously told Page Six. / SplashNews.com

Day-Lewis added that he felt so prepared to move past that project that he was not going to watch it.

“Not wanting to see the film is connected to the decision I’ve made to stop working as an actor,” he explained.

“But it’s not why the sadness came to stay. That happened during the telling of the story, and I don’t really know why.”

Day-Lewis is an Oscar winner. EPA In May 2023, he was seen out in public for the first time in four years. Elder Ordonez / SplashNews.com

Despite being put off by acting for some time, Page Six exclusively reported in January 2018 that Day-Lewis was not done with Hollywood just yet.

Sources exclusively told us at the time that the “Lincoln” star had been taking meetings about “producing projects,” with one insider stating, “He is trying to help a friend get a film financed and produced.”

It’s unclear whether “Avelyn” is one of those projects.