Editing Viggo Mortensen (section)

== Acting career ==
=== 1980s–1990s: First films ===
Mortensen's first film role was in the [[Woody Allen]] film ''[[The Purple Rose of Cairo]]'' (1985), but his scenes were deleted from the final cut.<ref>{{cite news |last=Valiente |first=Alexa |date=July 20, 2016 |title=Viggo Mortensen Once Didn't Know He Was Cut From a Woody Allen Film Until Its Release |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/viggo-mortensen-cut-woody-allen-film-release/story?id=40712577 |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |access-date=July 21, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160721124049/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/viggo-mortensen-cut-woody-allen-film-release/story?id=40712577 |archive-date=July 21, 2016 }}</ref> He was one of the four finalists to play the title role of [[Tarzan]] in the adventure film ''[[Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes]]'' (1984), though the role eventually went to [[Christopher Lambert]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Galloway |first=Stephen |date=July 1, 2016 |title=The Secrets Behind That Other Tarzan Movie — The One That Earned a Dog a Screenwriting Oscar Nomination |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/greystoke-inside-story-1984-tarzan-908081/ |access-date=March 29, 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>

His first onscreen appearance was playing an [[Amish]] farmer in [[Peter Weir]]'s ''[[Witness (1985 film)|Witness]]''. He was cast because the director thought he had the right face for the part. Although he was simultaneously cast as a soldier in [[Shakespeare in the Park (New York City)|Shakespeare in the Park]]'s production of ''[[Henry V (play)|Henry V]]'', he chose to work on ''Witness'' instead, citing a desire to try something new. Mortensen credited that decision and the positive experience on the film as the start of his film career.<ref name="dvdextra">{{cite AV media |people=Keith Clark and Jon Mefford |year=2005 |title=Witness |chapter=Between Two Worlds: The Making of ''Witness'' |medium=DVD |publisher=Paramount Pictures |oclc=949729643}}</ref> Also in 1985, he was cast in the role of Bragg on the TV series ''[[Search for Tomorrow]]''.

Mortensen's 1987 performance in ''[[Bent (play)|Bent]]'' at the [[Coast Playhouse]], Los Angeles, won him a [[Drama-Logue Award|Dramalogue Critics' Award]]. The play, which revolves around homosexual prisoners in a [[concentration camp]] in Nazi Germany, was known for the leading performance by [[Ian McKellen]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Arkatov |first=Janice |date=April 3, 1987 |title=A GAY GROUND-BREAKER |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-04-03-ca-2360-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=July 27, 2015}}</ref> with whom Mortensen later costarred in the film trilogy ''[[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|The Lord of the Rings]]''. The same year, Mortensen starred as Jerome Stample in the black comedy ''[[Salvation!]]'' <ref>{{cite news |last1=Canby |first1=Vincent |title=TV Evangelism is satirized in "Salvation!" |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/05/31/movies/tv-evangelism-is-satirized-in-salvation.html |access-date=November 12, 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=May 31, 1987}}</ref> alongside Exene Cervenka, and played Burke, a professional car thief in ''[[Prison (1987 film)|Prison]]''. He also guest starred as a police detective on the hit TV series ''[[Miami Vice]].''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/miami-vice-reboot-nbc-vin-diesel-1202506455/ |title='Miami Vice' Reboot in Works at NBC From Vin Diesel |last=Otterson |first=Joe |date=August 2, 2017 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=August 2, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802212049/https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/miami-vice-reboot-nbc-vin-diesel-1202506455/ |archive-date=August 2, 2017}}</ref> In 1988, Mortensen played a minor part as Green, the abusive husband of Jewel ([[Molly Ringwald]]), in ''[[Fresh Horses (film)|Fresh Horses]]''. The following year, Mortensen appeared in a minor role as Hans in ''[[Tripwire (film)|Tripwire]]''.

Mortensen made three film appearances in 1990: Edward "Tex" Sawyer, a member of a cannibalistic family in ''[[Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III]]'', John W. Poe in ''[[Young Guns II]]'', and Cameron Dove, a military veteran suffering from radiation poisoning in ''[[The Reflecting Skin]]''. ''The Reflecting Skin'' was Mortensen's first film to premiere at the [[Cannes Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Volmers |first1=Eric |title=Reflecting on Alberta's strangest movie, 1990's The Reflecting Skin |url=https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/movies/reflecting-on-albertas-strangest-movie-1990s-the-reflecting-skin |access-date=November 17, 2024 |publisher=Calgary Herald |date=March 11, 2016}}</ref> The following year, Mortensen starred as Frank Roberts in [[Sean Penn]]'s directorial debut [[The Indian Runner]]. [[Sandy Dennis]], who played Frank Roberts's mother in the film and was a personal friend of Mortensen, was dying of ovarian cancer during filming. Mortensen described the filming experience as having an "undercurrent of loss," and wrote the poem "For Sandy Dennis" in her honor.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mortensen |first1=Viggo |title=Missing Sandy Dennis |url=https://www.focusfeatures.com/article/missing_sandy_dennis |access-date=November 18, 2024 |work=www.focusfeatures.com |publisher=Focus Features |date=August 7, 2008 |language=en}}</ref>

In 1992, Mortensen starred in ''[[Ruby Cairo]]'' alongside [[Liam Neeson]] and [[Andie MacDowell]]. Although Ruby Cairo was Mortensen's highest-budget film at this point in his career, it was a commercial failure, bringing in only 608,000 on its 24 million dollar budget.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ruby Cairo (1993) - Financial Information |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Ruby-Cairo#tab=summary |website=The Numbers |access-date=28 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Elley |first1=Derek |title=Ruby Cairo |url=https://variety.com/1993/film/reviews/ruby-cairo-2-1200432311/ |website=Variety |date=5 May 1993}}</ref> The next year, the film was recut and given the title ''Deception''. Several scenes were reshot for ''Deception'', including a sex scene between Mortensen and MacDowell, which was removed and replaced with a less intimate dialogue on a balcony.

By the mid-1990s, Mortensen was consistently making several film appearances a year. During this time, Mortensen was frequently cast in crime dramas such as Lalin Miasso in ''[[Carlito's Way]]'', Carl Frazer in ''[[The Young Americans (film)|The Young Americans]]'', Nick Davis in ''[[American Yakuza]]'', and Guy Foucard in ''[[Albino Alligator|Albino Aligator]]''.

Other films from that time include [[Jane Campion]]'s ''[[The Portrait of a Lady (film)|The Portrait of a Lady]]'', where he played Caspar Goodwood, a love interest of the film's protagonist,  Isabel Archer ([[Nicole Kidman]]).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Maslin |first1=Janet |title=Henry James, not too literally |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/27/movies/henry-james-not-too-literally.html |access-date=26 November 2024 |agency=New York Times |date=December 27, 1996}}</ref> He also acted in ''[[Crimson Tide (film)|Crimson Tide]]'', ''[[Daylight (1996 film)|Daylight]]'', ''[[A Walk on the Moon]]'',  ''[[The Passion of Darkly Noon]]'', ''[[28 Days (film)|28 Days]]'', and ''[[The Prophecy]]'', with [[Christopher Walken]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Stephen |last=Applebaum |title=Mortensen's battle scars |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2544149.stm |work=BBC News |date=December 5, 2002 |access-date=August 26, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040619150324/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2544149.stm |archive-date=June 19, 2004 |url-status=live}}</ref>

With a budget of $50 million, [[G.I. Jane|''G.I Jane'' (1997)]] was Mortensen's biggest budget film appearance prior to his role in ''Lord of the Rings''.<ref>{{cite web |title=G.I. Jane (1997) - Financial Information |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/GI-Jane-(1997)#tab=summary |website=The Numbers}}</ref> Although the film earned his co-star, [[Demi Moore]], a [[Golden Raspberry Awards|Golden Raspberry Award]] for her role, Mortensen's performance as Command Master Chief John James 'Jack' Urgayle was favorably received.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Malsin |first1=Janet |title='G.I. Jane': A Heroine Who's More Like Tarzan |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/film/gi-jane-film-review.html |access-date=3 December 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=22 August 1997}}</ref>

In 1998, Mortensen appeared in remakes of two [[Alfred Hitchcock]] movies: ''[[Psycho (1998 film)|Psycho]]'' and ''[[A Perfect Murder]]'' (which was a remake of ''[[Dial M for Murder]]'').

=== 2000s: ''The Lord of the Rings'' and breakthrough ===
[[File:ViggoMortensen.jpg|thumb|upright|Mortensen at the premiere of ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'', December 1, 2003]]
Another major mainstream breakthrough came in 1999, when [[Peter Jackson]] cast him as [[Aragorn]] in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy]]. According to the Special Extended Edition DVD of ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', Mortensen was a last-minute replacement for [[Stuart Townsend]], and would not have taken the part of Aragorn had it not been for his son's enthusiasm for the [[J. R. R. Tolkien]] novel.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a1414/esq0306viggo-194/ |title=Eats Roadkill, Speaks Danish. |last=Wallace |first=Amy |date=February 27, 2006 |website=Esquire |access-date=February 14, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214061642/https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a1414/esq0306viggo-194/ |archive-date=February 14, 2015}}</ref> He received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Aragorn, and was ranked No. 15 on a 2015 survey of "The 100 Greatest Movie Characters" conducted by ''[[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]]''.<ref>[https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/100-greatest-movie-characters/ "The 100 Greatest Movie Characters"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329121320/http://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/100-greatest-movie-characters/|date=March 29, 2016}}. ''Empire'', June 29, 2015</ref>

In ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers|The Two Towers]]'' DVD extras, the film's swordmaster, [[Bob Anderson (fencer)|Bob Anderson]], described Mortensen as "the best swordsman I've ever trained." Mortensen often performed his own stunts, and even the injuries he sustained during several of them, including two broken toes, did not dampen his enthusiasm. At one point during filming of ''The Two Towers'', Mortensen, [[Orlando Bloom]], and Brett Beattie (stunt double for [[John Rhys-Davies]]) all had painful injuries, which led to Peter Jackson jokingly referring to the three as "the walking wounded."<ref name="Filming">{{cite video |title=Cameras in Middle-earth: Filming The Two Towers |medium=DVD |publisher=New Line Cinema |date=2003}}</ref> Also, according to the Special Extended Edition DVD of ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'', Mortensen purchased the two horses, Uraeus and Kenny, whom he had ridden and bonded with over the duration of the films.<ref>{{cite video |title=The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Special Extended DVD Edition) |medium=DVD |publisher=New Line Cinema |date=2004}}</ref>

In 2004, Mortensen starred as [[Frank Hopkins]] in ''[[Hidalgo (film)|Hidalgo]]'', the story of an ex-army courier who travels to Arabia to compete with his horse, Hidalgo, in a dangerous desert race for a contest prize.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/extras/features/3645-interviews-viggo-mortensen-on-hidalgo |title=Interviews: Viggo Mortensen on Hidalgo |date=February 25, 2004 |website=ComingSoon.net |access-date=August 5, 2005 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126001543/https://www.comingsoon.net/extras/features/3645-interviews-viggo-mortensen-on-hidalgo |archive-date=January 26, 2021}}</ref>

Mortensen starred in [[David Cronenberg]]'s 2005 film ''[[A History of Violence]]'' as a family man revealed to have had an unsavory previous career. He was nominated for a Satellite Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture for this role.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2005b.shtml |title=2005-B 10th Annual SATELLITE™ Awards - December 2005 |website=[[International Press Academy]] |access-date=October 13, 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715112933/http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2005b.shtml |archive-date=July 15, 2011}}</ref> In the DVD extras for ''A History of Violence'', Cronenberg related that Mortensen is the only actor he had come across who would come back from weekends with his family with items he had bought to use as props on the set.<ref>{{cite video |title=A History of Violence (DVD Extra) |medium=DVD |publisher=New Line Cinema |date=2006}}</ref> [[File:Viggo Mortensen 2005.jpg|thumb|upright|Mortensen interviewed by [[eTalk]] Daily at the 2005 [[Toronto International Film Festival]], for ''[[A History of Violence]]'']]

In 2006, he starred as Captain Diego Alatriste in the Spanish language film ''[[Alatriste]]'', based on the series of novels ''[[Captain Alatriste|The Adventures of Captain Alatriste]]'', written by the Spanish writer [[Arturo Pérez-Reverte]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2006/film/markets-festivals/alatriste-1200513074/ |title=Alatriste |last=Holland |first=Jonathan |date=September 25, 2006 |website=Variety |access-date=February 1, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201084347/https://variety.com/2006/film/markets-festivals/alatriste-1200513074/ |archive-date=February 1, 2016}}</ref>

In September 2007, the film ''[[Eastern Promises]]'', directed by David Cronenberg, was released to critical acclaim for the film itself and for Mortensen's performance as a Russian gangster on the rise in London. His nude fight scene in a steam room was applauded by [[Roger Ebert]]: "Years from now, it will be referred to as a benchmark."<ref>{{cite news |last=Ebert |first=Roger |date=September 14, 2007 |title=Eastern Promises |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070913/REVIEWS/709130303/-1/EDITOR |work=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=December 22, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003110500/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20070913%2FREVIEWS%2F709130303%2F-1%2FEDITOR |archive-date=October 3, 2012}}</ref> Mortensen's performance in ''Eastern Promises'' resulted in his winning the Best Performance by an Actor in a British Independent Film award from the [[British Independent Film Awards]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bifa.org.uk/film/917/Eastern_Promises.html |title=British Independent Film Awards 2007 nominations |publisher=[[British Independent Film Awards]] | access-date=January 24, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226070856/http://www.bifa.org.uk/film/917/Eastern_Promises.html |archive-date=December 26, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He was also nominated for an [[Academy Award]] for Best Actor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/80academyawards/nominees/index.html |title=80th Academy Awards |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] | access-date=January 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080123152423/http://www.oscars.org/80academyawards/nominees/index.html |archive-date=January 23, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Mortensen appeared as himself in the 2009 film ''[[Reclaiming the Blade]]'', in which he discussed his passion for the sword and his sword-work in films such as ''[[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|The Lord of the Rings]]'' and ''[[Alatriste]]''. Mortensen also talked about his work with [[Bob Anderson (fencer)|Bob Anderson]], the swordmaster on ''[[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[Alatriste]]'', ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean (film series)|Pirates of the Caribbean]]'' and many others.<ref>{{cite video |title=Reclaiming the Blade |medium=DVD |publisher=Galatia Films Home Entertainment |date=2009}}</ref>
[[File:Viggo Mortensen 2012.jpg|thumb|200px|Mortensen at the [[32nd Genie Awards]] in March 2012]]
In 2009, Mortensen performed in ''[[The People Speak (film)|The People Speak]]'', a documentary feature film that uses dramatic and musical performances of the letters, diaries, and speeches of everyday Americans, based on historian [[Howard Zinn]]'s ''[[A People's History of the United States]]''. Later that year, he joined the cast of ''[[The Road (2009 film)|The Road]]'', a film adaptation of the [[Cormac McCarthy]] novel of the same name,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/aug/06/viggo-mortensen-on-the-road |title=Viggo Mortensen to star in Walter Salles's On the Road |work=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=March 8, 2011 |first=Catherine |last=Shoard |date=August 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011203403/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/aug/06/viggo-mortensen-on-the-road |archive-date=October 11, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> and collaborated with David Cronenberg for a third time on ''[[A Dangerous Method]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2010/film/news/upi-to-distribute-new-cronenberg-pic-1118018168/ |title=UPI to distribute new Cronenberg pic |work=Variety |access-date=February 20, 2011 |first=Diana |last=Lodderhose |date=April 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629164445/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118018168?refCatId=13 |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2010s–present: Critical acclaim ===
After two years, Mortensen returned to theater in 2011, starring in [[Ariel Dorfman]]'s ''Purgatorio'' ("Purgatory") in [[Madrid]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/cultura/Viggo/Mortensen/vuelve/teatro/Carme/Elias/obra/capacidad/perdon/elpepucul/20111031elpepucul_4/Tes |title=Viggo Mortensen vuelve al teatro con Carme Elias en una obra sobre la capacidad de perdón (in Spanish) |work=[[El País]] | access-date=November 23, 2011}}</ref> ''Purgatorio'' is Mortensen's first play in Spanish. The play is about a man and woman confined either in a psychiatric hospital or prison together. During production, Mortensen's mother became ill and he pulled out of the initial premiere date, the first time he had ever done so for a project. The play premiered from November 4 to December 18.<ref>{{cite news |title=Viggo and Carme explore forgiveness |url=https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2011/11/04/inenglish/1320387642_850210.html |work=El País |language=Spanish |date=November 4, 2011 |access-date=November 23, 2011}}</ref>

During production for the 2012 film ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]'', Mortensen was offered to reprise his role as Aragorn, but he declined because the character does not appear in [[The Hobbit|the novel the film is based on]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.movies.com/movie-news/viggo-mortenson-dangerous-method-interview/5474 |title=Dialogue: Viggo Mortensen on Playing Sigmund Freud in 'A Dangerous Method,' the Motivation of Dreams and His Chances of Appearing in 'The Hobbit' |last=DeSalvo |first=Robert B. |date=November 21, 2011 |website=[[Movies.com]] |access-date=January 11, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111172210/http://www.movies.com/movie-news/viggo-mortenson-dangerous-method-interview/5474 |archive-date=January 11, 2012}}</ref>

Mortensen starred in the 2016 film ''[[Captain Fantastic (film)|Captain Fantastic]]'', for which he received his second [[Academy Award]] nomination.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/oscars-viggo-mortensen-captain-fantastic-donald-trump-lord-rings-reunion-973262/ |title=Oscars: Viggo Mortensen on 'Captain Fantastic,' Donald Trump and That 'Lord of the Rings' Reunion |last=Sandberg |first=Bryn |date=February 10, 2017 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=February 10, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508113524/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/oscars-viggo-mortensen-captain-fantastic-donald-trump-lord-rings-reunion-973262/ |archive-date=May 8, 2021}}</ref> Alonso Duralde of ''[[TheWrap]]'' praised Mortensen's performance, saying, "The movie really belongs to Mortensen, who allows Ben to be exasperating, arrogant, and impatient but also warm, loving, and caring. He's a tough but adoring father, a grieving widower and a passionate defender of his wife's final wishes, and Mortensen plays all these notes, and more with subtlety and grace".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thewrap.com/captain-fantastic-review-viggo-mortensen-george-mackay-frank-langella |title=Captain Fantastic' Sundance Review: Viggo Mortensen Raises an Off-the-Grid Family in This Touching Dramedy |work=[[TheWrap]] |first=Alonso |last=Duralde |date=January 24, 2016 |access-date=February 13, 2016 |archive-date=February 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160226222130/http://www.thewrap.com/captain-fantastic-review-viggo-mortensen-george-mackay-frank-langella/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2018, he starred in the film ''[[Green Book (film)|Green Book]]''. Mortensen portrayed [[Tony Lip]], an [[Italian Americans|Italian-American]] bouncer hired to drive and protect pianist [[Don Shirley]] ([[Mahershala Ali]]) on a tour through the [[Jim Crow South]] from 1962 to 1963. Reflecting on the character, Mortensen stated, "I was attracted to playing Tony in part because it was a different kind of character, but the main thing I liked about him was his heart".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://people.com/movies/how-viggo-mortensen-transformed-green-book/ |title=See How Viggo Mortensen Transformed Into His Oscar-Nominated Role of Tony Lip in 'Green Book' |last=Fernández |first=Alexia |date=February 20, 2019 |website=[[People (magazine)|People]] |access-date=February 21, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221035616/https://people.com/movies/how-viggo-mortensen-transformed-green-book/ |archive-date=February 21, 2019}}</ref> Mortensen received his third Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Lip.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/02/green-book-wins-oscar-best-picture-1202563744/ |title='Green Book' Caps Wild Oscar Year With Best Picture Win |last=Hipes |first=Patrick |date=February 24, 2019 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=February 25, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225092121/https://deadline.com/2019/02/green-book-wins-oscar-best-picture-1202563744/ |archive-date=February 25, 2019}}</ref>

In 2020, Mortensen released his directorial debut ''[[Falling (2020 film)|Falling]]'', which he also wrote, produced, composed the score for and starred in alongside [[Lance Henriksen]] at the [[Sundance Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hammond |first1=Pete |title=Viggo Mortensen On 'Falling' Into A New Phase Of His Career With Directing Debut Set To World Premiere At Sundance |url=https://deadline.com/2020/01/viggo-mortensen-falling-directing-debut-sundance-film-festival-1202839429/ |website=Deadline |access-date=November 9, 2024 |date=January 23, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/simonthompson/2021/02/04/viggo-mortensen-and-lance-henriksen-talk-powerful-dementia-drama-falling/?sh=1f364d663871 |title=Viggo Mortensen And Lance Henriksen Talk Powerful Dementia Drama 'Falling' |last=Thompson |first=Simon |date=February 4, 2021 |website=[[Forbes]] |access-date=February 4, 2021}}</ref> Mortensen had based the story on his own family's history, including his parents suffering from dementia. The film is dedicated to his brothers, Charles and Walter Mortensen.<ref>{{cite news |last=Topel |first=Fred |date=February 4, 2021 |title=Viggo Mortensen, Lance Henriksen relive family trauma in 'Falling' |url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Movies/2021/02/04/Viggo-Mortensen-Lance-Henriksen-relive-family-trauma-in-Falling/9081612378778/ |work=United Press International |access-date=February 4, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204080600/https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Movies/2021/02/04/Viggo-Mortensen-Lance-Henriksen-relive-family-trauma-in-Falling/9081612378778/ |archive-date=February 4, 2021}}</ref>

During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] in May 2020, Mortensen along with fellow Lord of the Rings actors [[Sean Astin]], [[Sean Bean]], [[Orlando Bloom]], [[Billy Boyd (actor)|Billy Boyd]], [[Ian McKellen]], [[Dominic Monaghan]], [[Miranda Otto]], [[John Rhys-Davies]], [[Andy Serkis]], [[Liv Tyler]], [[Karl Urban]], [[Elijah Wood]], writer [[Philippa Boyens]], and director [[Peter Jackson]] joined actor [[Josh Gad]]'s YouTube series ''[[Reunited Apart]]'', which reunites the cast of popular movies through video-conferencing, and promotes donations to non-profit charities.<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Kane |first1=Caitlin |date=June 1, 2020 |title=Actor Josh Gad reunites stars of 'Lord of the Rings' while raising money for kids in need |publisher=[[CBS News]] |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/actor-josh-gad-reunites-stars-of-lord-of-the-rings-while-raising-money-for-kids-in-need/}}</ref>

Mortensen was cast as British cave diver [[Rick Stanton]] in the biographical film ''[[Thirteen Lives]]'' directed by [[Ron Howard]] which was released in July 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/viggo-mortensen-colin-farrell-joel-edgerton-ron-howard-thai-cave-rescue-movie-mgm-thirteen-lives-bron-imagine-1234712218/ |title=Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell, Joel Edgerton Head Ensemble Of Ron Howard-Directed MGM Thai Cave Rescue Pic 'Thirteen Lives' |work=Deadline |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=March 11, 2021 |access-date=March 30, 2022}}</ref> Mortensen was taught cave diving by Stanton personally to prepare for the role.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/teaching-viggo-mortensen-thai-cave-diving-thirteen-lives-1235270753/ |title=Guest Column: Teaching Viggo Mortensen 40 Years of Thai Cave Diving for 'Thirteen Lives' |last=Stanton |first=Richard |date=December 5, 2022 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=December 5, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205235831/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/teaching-viggo-mortensen-thai-cave-diving-thirteen-lives-1235270753/ |archive-date=December 5, 2022}}</ref>

Mortensen reunited with David Cronenberg in the horror sci-fi film ''[[Crimes of the Future (2022 film)|Crimes of the Future]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/viggo-mortensen-kristen-stewart-crimes-of-the-future-david-cronenberg-4175843/ |title=Viggo Mortensen, Kristen Stewart to Star in 'Crimes of the Future' From David Cronenberg |work=The Hollywood Reporter |last=Galuppo |first=Mia |date=April 29, 2021 |access-date=March 30, 2022}}</ref> Mortensen reunited with [[Lisandro Alonso]] on the film ''Eureka''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/global/viggo-mortensen-chiara-mastroianni-lisandro-alonso-eureka-1234724861/ |title=Viggo Mortensen, Chiara Mastroianni, Maria de Medeiros Set for Lisandro Alonso's 'Eureka' (EXCLUSIVE) |work=Variety |last=Hopewell |first=John |date=August 4, 2020 |access-date=March 30, 2022}}</ref> Mortensen and [[Caleb Landry Jones]] will star together in the [[Vietnam War]] thriller ''Two Wolves'' which will be directed by documentary filmmaker [[Alex Gibney]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/global/viggo-mortensen-caleb-landry-jones-two-wolves-alex-gibney-1235099409/ |title=Viggo Mortensen, Caleb Landry Jones Headline 'Two Wolves' From Alex Gibney, Altitude to Produce and Sell Globally – AFM |work=Variety |last=Ravindram |first=Manori |date=October 28, 2021 |access-date=March 30, 2022}}</ref>

He wrote, directed, and stars in a Western film titled ''[[The Dead Don't Hurt]]''. It also stars [[Vicky Krieps]] and it was shot in Mexico.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://theplaylist.net/vicky-krieps-viggo-mortensen-western-20220522/ |title=Vicky Krieps Says She'll Star Next In A Viggo Mortensen-Directed Western Set In Mexico |last=Monagle |first=Matthew |date=May 22, 2022 |website=The Playlist |access-date=May 22, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522193421/https://theplaylist.net/vicky-krieps-viggo-mortensen-western-20220522/ |archive-date=May 22, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2022/10/viggo-mortensen-direct-vicky-krieps-in-western-the-dead-dont-hurt-1235136605/ |title=Viggo Mortensen to Direct Vicky Krieps in Western 'The Dead Don't Hurt' |last=Ntim |first=Zac |date=October 6, 2022 |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=October 6, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006152840/https://deadline.com/2022/10/viggo-mortensen-direct-vicky-krieps-in-western-the-dead-dont-hurt-1235136605/ |archive-date=October 6, 2022}}</ref>