Alec Baldwin and the family of the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins have reached a settlement for an undisclosed amount after she was killed on the set of the movie Rust last year.
Halyna, a 42-year-old cinematographer, was fatally shot on October 21, 2021, while preparing for a scene on a set in Santa Fe, New Mexico, when a gun held by the 30 Rock star accidentally went off.
Alec had claimed in a tearful interview with ABC News that he did not pull the trigger of the gun at the time of the shooting.
Earlier this year, in February, the late crew member's husband Matthew Hutchins sued Alec and the film's producers for wrongful death.
Now, as reported by CNN, Matthew confirmed that the wrongful death suit against the producers of Rust, which includes Alec, will be dismissed.
Matthew said in a statement: “We have reached a settlement, subject to court approval, for our wrongful death case against the producers of Rust, including Alec Baldwin and Rust Movie Productions, LLC. As part of that settlement, our case will be dismissed.
"The filming of Rust, which I will now executive produce, will resume with all the original principal players on board in January 2023.
"I have no interest in engaging in recriminations or attribution of blame (to the producers or Mr. Baldwin). All of us believe Halyna’s death was a terrible accident.
"I am grateful that the producers and the entertainment community have come together to pay tribute to Halyna’s final work."
“Throughout this difficult process, everyone has maintained the specific desire to do what is best for Halyna’s son. We are grateful to everyone who contributed to the resolution of this tragic and painful situation,” Alec's attorney, Luke Nikas of Quinn Emanuel, said in a statement.
At the time of the accident, Alec had been pointing the firearm at Halyna during rehearsals for a scene when it suddenly went off, fatally striking Halyna's chest and injuring director Joel Souza.
In a statement to CBS News, an attorney for Alec and other Rust producers denied claims that they were reckless where gun safety was concerned.
The attorney said: "He, Halyna, and the rest of the crew relied on the statement by the two professionals responsible for checking the gun that it was a 'cold gun' – meaning there is no possibility of a discharge, blank or otherwise.
"This protocol has worked on thousands of films, with millions of discharges, as there has never before been an incident on a set where an actual bullet harmed anyone. Actors should be able to rely on armorers and prop department professionals, as well as assistant directors, rather than deciding on their own when a gun is safe to use."
This is a developing story. More to follow.
