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Alec Baldwin, RUST Producers Reach Settlement With Halyna Hutchins’ Family

MSNBC/YouTube

Alec Baldwin, RUST Producers Reach Settlement With Halyna Hutchins’ Family

By Movieguide® Contributor

Alec Baldwin, the RUST producers, and the family of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins have reached a settlement regarding Hutchins’ wrongful death suit. 

Movieguide® previously reported on the tragic on-set shooting:

While rehearsing for the upcoming Western RUST on location in New Mexico, actor Alec Baldwin discharged a gun, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring the film’s director, Joel Souza.

Hutchins was rushed to a hospital by helicopter and was soon pronounced dead. Souza was taken by ambulance to a separate medical center. And in the aftermath of it all, Baldwin voices his sorrow regarding the incident as well as his sympathy to the family of the deceased.

Authorities are currently looking into the fatal shooting on set, and criminal charges have yet to be ruled out.

Mary Carmack-Altwies, the local district attorney, told the New York Times, “We haven’t ruled out anything.”

Being a Western, a hefty portion of firearms and ammunition have been used during the filming of the movie. Detectives said they retrieved three revolvers in addition to a number of spent casings and ammunition from the set.

In the midst of the tragic death of Hutchins and the uncertainty of the investigation surrounding the handling of weapons on the set of RUST, questions regarding the legitimacy of firearm use in cinema have resurfaced.

Matthew Hutchins, Halyna Hutchins’ husband, made a statement regarding the settlement:

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.

Baldwin’s attorney also made a statement, saying, “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.”

Despite settling the lawsuit, Baldwin and others involved in the production of RUST could still face charges for Hutchins’ death. 

The shooting, which took place in October last year, is still being investigated by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department.