Shout! Studios has just released a new trailer for The Dead Don’t Hurt, a Western romance from the desk of actor, writer, and director Viggo Mortensen. The film marks Mortensen’s second time in the director’s seat, following his debut with Falling (2020), and will also the Lord of the Rings alum as Danish immigrant Holger Olsen. Vicky Krieps (Berlin One) will star opposite Mortensen as Vivienne Le Coudy, an independent woman who falls for Olsen as the pair travel from San Francisco to Nevada. Danny Houston, Garrett Dillahunt, Solly McLeod, Colin Morgan, Ray McKinnon, W. Earl Brown, and Atlas Green will also star.
Viggo Mortensen and Vicky Krieps Travel the West in ‘The Dead Don’t Hurt’ Trailer
Likely best known as Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Viggo Mortensen made his directorial debut with Falling, a 2020 father-son drama starring Mortensen in the lead role. The Dead Don’t Hurt is his second directorial role, where he once again is pulling quadruple duty as an actor, writer, producer, and director. Mortensen stars as Holger Olsen, who meets the “fiercely independent” Vivienne Le Cloudy (Vicky Krieps) in San Francisco. Vivienne agrees to travel with Holger to his home in Nevada, and the two begin a life together.
However, when the Civil War breaks out and Holger makes the decision to join the fight, Vivienne is left on her own in a place controlled by the corrupt Mayor Rudolph Schiller (Danny Houston), his business partner Alfred Jeffries (Garrett Dillahunt), and Alfred’s son Weston (Solly McLeod) who wants Vivienne for himself despite her stalwart attempts to avoid him altogether. When Holger returns home from the war, the couple are forced to “confront and make peace with the person each has become”, per Deadline.
Viggo Mortensen penned the script for the film and will also produce alongside Regina Solorzano and Jeremy Thomas. Gia Galligani and Angela Blair served as co-producers while Roberto Paxson, Gabriel Terrazas, Ivan Kelava, Daniel Berkerman, Jesper Morthorst, Paula Astorga Riestra, and Peter Watson were executive producers.
The Dead Don’t Hurt starring Viggo Mortensen and Vicky Krieps will debut nationwide on May 31st, 2024.