Alec Baldwin has filmed his first scene with a shotgun as production on the Rust movie resumes, following an on-set death in 2021.
To recap, 65-year-old Baldwin was recently charged in relation to the movie set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The 42-year-old tragically died after a prop gun Baldwin had been holding had discharged a live round in October 2021, also injuring director Joel Souza, who survived.
On Thursday (April 20) Sky News reported that, despite Santa Fe prosecutors initially seeking two involuntary manslaughter charges against 65-year-old Baldwin, all criminal charges have been dropped, according to sources.
In response to the development, Baldwin's lawyers, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, said in a statement via The New York Post: "We are pleased with the decision to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin and we encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic accident."
The Hollywood star had officially been charged with involuntary manslaughter back in January following Hutchins' tragic death. The news divided the movie industry, as well as the general public, with people disputing if Baldwin should be blamed for a live gun on a movie set. Baldwin had been rehearsing a scene using the prop gun when it misfired.
The father-of-seven has repeatedly maintained his innocence, claiming that the prop gun he was handed was not meant to be loaded, and that his understanding was that it was empty.
Dave Halls, the assistant director of the movie, had reportedly signed a plea agreement for the charge of the negligent use of a deadly weapon, per Sky News.
Ever since the tragedy, Baldwin has maintained his innocence, accusing the movie's armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed - who was also charged with involuntary manslaughter - of not ensuring the weapon was safe. Gutierrez-Reed is still facing the charges against her, per the Daily Mail.
Now, TMZ has reported that Baldwin is back on set of the Rust movie - which has resumed filming this week in Pray, Montana.
Hutchins' husband will serve as an executive producer on the project and agreed for the film to be finished as part of a settlement reached with Baldwin.
The outlet detailed that the 30 Rock actor was seen handling a lever action rifle on Friday (April 21). In one scene, Baldwin was photographed passing the prop gun, handle first, to another crew member.
Photos snapped by the outlet show the actor sporting old Western-style clothing while standing next to a horse.
