Topline
The western movie Rust will resume filming this spring with Alec Baldwin at the helm, producers announced Wednesday, 16 months after a gun in Baldwin’s hand fired on set, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, although Baldwin and the film’s gunsmith have been charged with manslaughter in connection with Hutchins’ death last month.
Alec Baldwin speaks for the first time about the accidental shooting that killed the cinematographer … [+]
Highlights
Production will move from New Mexico, where Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez-Reed each face two manslaughter charges, to the Yellowstone Film Ranch in Montana, according to a statement from the producers. Variety And Deadline reported.
Production on the film was about halfway through when Hutchins was killed, and work was immediately halted so an investigation could begin.
In a statement, the founders of the Yellowstone Film Ranch said they were “honored to play a part in realizing his vision and advancing his inspirational legacy by championing this film,” according to Variety And Deadline.
Director Joel Souza, who was shot in the shoulder during the incident, said in a separate statement “it’s a privilege to work with such great partners as we see in Halyna’s name,” and “finishing ‘Rust’ and honoring Halyna means the world to me and our entire production team.
Souza and the original crew are returning to production, according to Deadline.
Forbes has contacted Rust Movie Productions for comment.
Key context
It was first announced that Rust would resume filming in October, when Baldwin, Gutierrez-Reed, the production company and others settled a wrongful death lawsuit brought against them by Matthew Hutchins, the widower of Halyna Hutchins. . Matthew Hutchins was set to serve as executive producer on the film when filming resumes, which was originally scheduled to restart in January. “I am grateful that the producers and entertainment community have come together to pay tribute to Halyna’s final work,” Matthew Hutchins said at the time. Last week, several news outlets announced that production would resume in the coming months.
Tangent
Assistant director Dave Halls has agreed to plead guilty to one charge of careless use of a deadly weapon. Halls, Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed are due in court on Friday. Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed have yet to submit a plea, although Baldwin’s attorneys have said they will fight the changes their client is facing, and Gutierrez-Reed’s attorneys have said she is not guilty of manslaughter. Earlier this week, charges against the two defendants were downgraded when the state dropped a gun upgrade that, if convicted, could have seen them serve a mandatory five years in prison. Gutierrez-Reed and Baldwin face up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Further reading
‘Rust’ Shooting: Alec Baldwin Charges Downgraded, Lowering Possible Jail Sentences (Forbes)
Alec Baldwin proposes to disqualify special prosecutor in ‘Rust’ case for serving as state legislator (Forbes)