Alec Baldwin to resume 'Rust' production this week

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By Kim Novak

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Filming is set to resume on Rust, a year and a half after cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed on set.

Hutchins, 42, tragically died after a prop gun Alec Baldwin had been holding had discharged a live round in October 2021, also injuring director Joel Souza, who survived.

Now, 18 months after the tragedy, it has been confirmed that production will resume on the film on Thursday, commencing at Yellowstone Film Ranch in Montana.

The news was confirmed to CNN by a spokesperson for Rust Movie Productions, with Baldwin and Souza both returning for the project.

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Halyna Hutchins was killed when a bullet discharged from a prop gun on set. Credit: Barry King / Alamy

It comes after Hutchins' widower, Matthew Hutchin, reached an undisclosed settlement with Baldwin in October following a wrongful death lawsuit filed against the actor and the film's production companies, its producers, other crew members.

The agreement specified that the movie is to be completed and that Matthew Hutchins will serve as an executive producer.

It was also confirmed in February that filming for the western would not resume in New Mexico at the Bonanza Creek Ranch where the tragedy took place, instead moving to a new location in Montana.

Hutchins had died after being fatally wounded when a live round of ammunition was fired from a prop gun Baldwin had been holding.

He and the production's armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who provided and was in charge of the firearm, were charged with involuntary manslaughter in January.

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Production will not resume in Santa Fe, New Mexico, following the tragic incident. Credit: ZUMA Press Inc / Alamy

Baldwin pleaded not guilty and attorneys for Gutierrez-Reed have also previously said she will also plead not guilty and maintains her innocence.

The 30 Rock actor has maintained that he had not been aware that the prop gun he was holding had been loaded with live rounds and, as he was rehearsing scenes in front of the camera, the gun discharged and fatally wounded Hutchins.

He vowed to fight the charges, with his lawyer calling them a "terrible miscarriage of justice," per Sky News.

The actor could face a prison sentence following the death of Hutchins, and to convict on involuntary manslaughter prosecutors must prove to the jury that Hutchins' death was the result of underlying negligence.

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Alec Baldwin had been holding the prop gun at the time of the incident. Credit: UPI / Alamy

Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said in a statement in February: "Actor and producer Alec Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed will each be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter. I have determined that there is sufficient evidence [...] On my watch, no one is above the law, and everyone deserves justice," per BBC News.

Carmack-Altwies listed several alleged issues with Baldwin's conduct - including claims that he failed to show up for firearms training and allegations that during a subsequent 30-minute on-set training he was too distracted to pay attention as he had been on the phone to his family. She also accused Baldwin of violating gun safety rules by pointing the firearm directly at Hutchins.

Featured image credit: ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy