Alec Baldwin reaches settlement in Halyna Hutchins’ shooting; ‘Rust’ filming resuming
The production company behind the movie “Rust” reached a settlement with the family of Halyna Hutchins, the cinematographer killed on set last October, both parties announced Wednesday.
Hutchins, 42, died after being shot by a firearm that was handled by actor and producer Alec Baldwin at the Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe, N.M., where production for the Western film was taking place.
The cinematographer’s husband, Matthew Hutchins, and their 9-year-old son filed a wrongful death lawsuit in February naming Baldwin, his fellow producers and multiple crew members.
The terms of the civil settlement were not announced. The agreement remains subject to court approval.
“As part of that settlement, our case will be dismissed,” Matthew Hutchins said Wednesday.
“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 claims he was told the gun was “cold,” indicating it wasn’t loaded with live ammunition, before the fatal incident on Oct. 21, 2021. He also claims he never pulled the gun’s trigger.
“Throughout this difficult process, everyone has maintained the specific desire to do what is best for Halyna’s son,” Baldwin’s attorney, Luke Nikas, said Wednesday in the settlement announcement. “We are grateful to everyone who contributed to the resolution of this tragic and painful situation.”
A lawyer for Rust Movie Productions, meanwhile, called the settlement an “important step forward in celebrating Halyna’s life.”
Authorities launched an investigation into how live ammunition made it onto the movie’s set. Nobody has been criminally charged, but Santa Fe County D.A. Mary Carmack-Altwies said last month in an emergency funding request that four defendants could be charged, including Baldwin.
The shooting also wounded director Joel Souza, who said Wednesday that resuming the film’s production will be dedicated to Hutchins’ “legacy and making her proud.”
“Those of us who were lucky enough to have spent time with Halyna knew her to be exceedingly talented, kind, creative, and a source of incredible positive energy,” Souza said.
“I only wish the world had gotten to know her under different circumstances, as it surely would have through her amazing work. In my own attempts to heal, any decision to return to finish directing the film could only make sense for me if it was done with the involvement of Matt and the Hutchins family. Though certainly bittersweet, I am pleased that together, we will now complete what Halyna and I started.”
In August, the Office of the Medical Investigator in New Mexico ruled the “Rust” shooting to be accidental, saying there was “no compelling demonstration” that someone intentionally loaded the gun with live ammunition.
Baldwin’s attorney contended at the time that the medical investigator’s finding is proof the actor shouldn’t be charged.
“This is the third time the New Mexico authorities have found that Alec Baldwin had no authority or knowledge of the allegedly unsafe conditions on the set, that he was told by the person in charge of safety on the set that the gun was ‘cold,’ and believed the gun was safe,” Nikas said.