UPDATE WITH ALEC BALDWIN’S STATEMENT: Rust Productions and its star and producer Alec Baldwin have reached an agreement with the estate of late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. As part of the peace, DP husband Matthew Hutchins will serve as executive producer Rust, which will return to production in January 2023 with the original cast.
The Hutchins family had filed a wrongful death lawsuit on February 15 for the DP shooting that occurred on October 21, 2021 when Baldwin discharged a prop gun after being told by production AD David Halls that the weapon was “cold”. ”
“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 this settlement, our case will be dismissed,” Matthew Hutchins said this morning.
“The filming of Rustwhich I will now produce, will pick up with all of the original main cast on board in January 2023,” Hutchins added.
“I have no interest in engaging in recriminations or blaming (the producers or Mr. Baldwin),” he added, “We all think Halyna’s death was a terrible accident. I’m grateful that producers and the entertainment community have come together to pay tribute to Halyna’s final work.
Rust Movie Productions, LLC, through its attorney, Melina Spadone of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, said, “We are pleased that the parties have come together to resolve this matter which, subject to court approval, marks an important milestone in celebrating Halyna’s life and honoring her work.
Baldwin’s attorney, Luke Nikas of Quinn Emanuel, added: ‘Throughout this difficult process, everyone has maintained a specific desire to do what is best for Halyna’s son. We are grateful to all those who contributed to the resolution of this tragic and painful situation.
Later this morning, the Oscar-nominated actor from The cooler added this on Instagram, “We are pleased to announce today the settlement of the civil case filed on behalf of the family of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. 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 helped resolve this tragic and painful situation.
Joel Souza, director of Rustsaid: “Those of us who had the chance to spend time with Halyna knew that she was extremely talented, kind, creative and an incredible source of positive energy. I only wish the world had learned to to know her under different circumstances, as surely would have been through her incredible work.In my own attempts at healing, any decision to return to complete the making of the film could only make sense to me if made with the involvement of Matt and the Hutchins family. While certainly bittersweet, I am happy that together we are now finishing what Halyna and I started. All of my efforts on this film will be dedicated to honoring Halyna’s legacy and to make her proud. It’s a privilege to see that on her behalf.
Hutchins’ original lawsuit in February read: “Defendant Baldwin, producers and Rust The production companies were aware of gun safety issues that had occurred on the set of Rust and took no action to correct the situation and ensure that basic gun safety rules fire were followed on October 21, 2021… If the accused Baldwin, the producers and the Rust The production companies have taken the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of firearms on the set of Rust or if basic gun safety rules had been followed on the set of Rust on Oct. 21, 2021, Halyna Hutchins would be alive and well, hugging her husband and nine-year-old son.
Nearly a year after the tragic incident, the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office has yet to charge anyone.
Last month, Deadline obtained a letter from Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies to the New Mexico Finance Council asking for $635,000 to prosecute up to four people charged with criminal offenses and homicide related to Rust tragedy (the DA received $317,750). The DA said in its letter that “one of the possible defendants is well-known movie actor Alec Baldwin.” Nikas, speaking on Baldwin’s behalf, responded to the prosecutor’s letter “that it would be premature to discuss the case as they had not yet reviewed the case or deliberated on their charging decision.”
“It is irresponsible to report otherwise,” Nikas blasted at the time, “The prosecutor made it clear that he had not received the sheriff’s report or made a decision on who, if anyone, could be charged. in that case.”
Nikas said in April that the Rust OSHA report “exonerates” Baldwin.
In an ABC interview with George Stephanopoulos last December, Baldwin insisted he never pulled the trigger on the gun that killed Hutchins during a quick rehearsal at a church on the shooting of Rust.
Baldwin also told Stephanopoulos in December, “People in the know, even inside the state, have told me that it’s highly unlikely that I’ll be charged with anything criminally.”
