The film “Rust” will resume production this spring despite being embroiled in continued criminal and civil litigation against actor-producer Alec Baldwin over the fatal on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in October 2021.
Rust Movie Productions issued a news release, according to KRQE, indicating many of the original crew and producers will remain involved in the project, including Baldwin, as the lead actor, and director Joel Souza. This American Western film written by Souza will be dedicated to honoring Hutchins' legacy.
Hutchins was killed and Souza injured when Baldwin was handling a gun that fired on the film set at Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe. The production company also plans to work with another team on a documentary about Hutchins. Her widow, Matthew Hutchins, will serve as an executive producer on the "Rust" project.
“Though bittersweet, I am grateful that a brilliant and dedicated new production team joining former cast and crew are committed to completing what Halyna and I started,” Souza in a news release, according to KRQE. “My every effort on this film will be devoted to honoring Halyna’s legacy and making her proud. It is a privilege to see this through on her behalf.”
Though the film’s producers previously announced that production of the "Rust" film would resume in January outside of New Mexico, the latest news release made no mention of where the production will take place, KRQE said.
According to the release reported on by KRQE, Bianca Cline will be the cinematographer and donate her full salary to charity in honor of Hutchins. The production has added other new crew members, per KRQE, including safety officers Gary Jensen and Paul Jordan with Los Angeles-based Tenet Production Safety.
“The production will continue to utilize union crew members and will bar any use of working weapons and any form of ammunition,” Rust Movie Productions said in the article. “Live ammunition is — and always was — prohibited on set.”
The Santa Fe District Attorney charged Baldwin and film armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed with one count each of involuntary manslaughter. They were expected to attend a virtual initial hearing on Friday, Feb. 24. Assistant director David Halls has agreed to a plea deal and is scheduled to stand before a judge on March 8, according to the KRQE article.
Rust Movie Productions and Baldwin reached a settlement with Hutchins' estate last October.
The documentary on Hutchins’ life is expected to be a separate project under director Rachel Mason and producer Julee Metz, according to KRQE. The documentary is described as an effort to honor “their friend (Hutchins) and show the brilliance and depth of Halyna’s talent while conveying what her loss has meant to her friends, colleagues and the entire film industry,” the article said.