A History of Violence: Viggo Mortensen (Lord of the Rings) is in final negotiations to star in the New Line Cinema action thriller A History of Violence.

Mortensen will play a small-town family man who is forced to return to his dark and violent past to rescue his family from peril in the film.

A History of Violence is being directed by David Cronenberg from a Josh Olson script. Based on a Paradox Press graphic novel which was penned by John Wagner, the film is being produced by JC Spink and Chris Bender through their Benderspink production company. The project is being overseen at New Line by production president Toby Emmerich, senior vp Kent Alterman, and vp Cale Boyter.

Mortensen previously worked with New Line Cinema on all three installments of the record-breaking Lord of the Rings trilogy. He also recently starred in Hidalgo and has been seen in such films as 28 Days, Psycho, and A Perfect Murder.