Alec Baldwin Rust settlement has ‘no impact’ on criminal investigation, prosecutors say
Santa Fe’s district attorney has said the settlement between Alec Baldwin, Rust producers and the family of Halyna Hutchins will have “no impact” on the ongoing criminal investigation into her death – and that “no one is above the law”.
A spokesperson for Mary Carmack-Altwies issued a statement following the announcement of the undisclosed civil settlement, saying charges could still be brought.
Hutchins, a cinematographer, died after a prop gun held by Baldwin was discharged during rehearsals for western film Rust on the Bonanza Creek Ranch set in New Mexico in October 2021, and her family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the star and others who worked on the production earlier this year.
Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot on the set of Rust last year. Pic: Swen Studios/ Reuters
Lawyers for her husband Matthew Hutchins, the Hollywood film star and other producers have now confirmed this has been settled – and that filming is due to resume in 2023, with Mr Hutchins taking an executive producer role.
In a statement shared with Sky News, Heather Brewer, spokesperson for the Office of the First Judicial District Attorney, said this would not affect the criminal investigation.
“The proposed settlement in Matthew Hutchins’ wrongful death case against Rust movie producers, including Alec Baldwin, in the death of Halyna Hutchins, will have no impact on District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies’ ongoing investigation or her ultimate decision whether to file criminal charges in the case,” the statement said.
“While civil suits are settled privately and often involve financial awards, criminal cases deal only in facts.
“If the facts and evidence warrant criminal charges under New Mexico law then charges will be brought. No one is above the law.”
Filming on Rust will pick up in January 2023, with director Joel Souza – who was wounded in the incident – returning to helm the project.
“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,” he said following the settlement announcement.
Director Joel Souza is returning to the production. Pic: Ron Adar/SOPA Images/Shutterstock
What did Baldwin, the Rust producers and Mr Hutchins say about the settlement?
Baldwin is a producer for the film, as well as its star.
Confirming the settlement, he thanked all those who “contributed to the resolution of this tragic and painful situation” and said they all wanted to “do what is best for Halyna’s son”.
Mr Hutchins said he has “no interest in engaging in recriminations or attribution of blame (to the producers or Mr Baldwin)”, and added: “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.”
A lawyer for Rust Movie Productions said: “We are pleased the parties came together to resolve this matter, which, subject to court approval, marks an important step forward in celebrating Halyna’s life and honouring her work.”
Almost a year on, no charges have been filed in connection with the incident.
In an on-camera interview a few weeks afterward, Baldwin recalled the moments leading up to the tragedy. He said he was handed the revolver and told “this is a cold gun” – an industry term meaning it was either empty or loaded with dummy rounds.
He said the gun went off accidentally and that he did not pull the trigger. However, a recent FBI forensic report found the weapon could not have been fired unless the trigger was pulled.
The settlement comes after a report found the film’s production company “knew that firearm safety procedures were not being followed on set” and “demonstrated plain indifference to employee safety”.
Read more: Who was Halyna Hutchins?
Rust Movie Productions was fined $136,793 (£104,810), the maximum allowable by state law in New Mexico, following a six-month investigation by the state’s environment department.
Baldwin and the Rust producers also face a case brought by script supervisor Mamie Mitchell, although a Los Angeles judge recently ruled they would not have to face its central claims of assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Spain has become the latest country to threaten a boycott of next year’s Eurovision Song Contest if Israel competes.
It is now the fifth broadcaster to say it will pull out over Israel’s participation, following recent announcements by the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia and Iceland – but the first of the competition’s so-called “Big Five”, a group which also includes Britain, Germany, Italy and France.
These countries provide the biggest financial contributions to Eurovision, with participants automatically qualifying for the final round, and their withdrawal would increase the pressure on the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises the event.
Ireland, represented by EMMY at Eurovision 2025, have also said they will not take part if Israel does. Pic: Reuters
The Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group, the competition’s governing body, said a decision on Israel’s participation is pending and that it has “taken note of the concerns expressed by several broadcasters”.
RTVE, the Spanish state broadcaster, announced the decision following a board vote on Tuesday.
The measure, proposed by president Jose Pablo Lopez, garnered 10 votes in favour, four against, and one abstention in the 15-member board, the broadcaster said in a statement.
Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sanchez has previously called for Israel to be banned from the competition, highlighting how Russia was expelled following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
At the time, the EBU said the decision reflected “concern that, in light of the unprecedented crisis in Ukraine, the inclusion of a Russian entry in this year’s contest would bring the competition into disrepute”.
Yuval Raphael represented Israel at this year’s event. Pic: Reuters
Recent editions of the contest, which has always expressed political neutrality, have involved demonstrations against Israel’s continued military action in Gaza – launched in response to the attack by Hamas militants on 7 October 2023, which left some 1,200 people dead.
Israeli contestant Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the Hamas attack, finished second in this year’s competition, held in Basel, Switzerland, in May – but there were protests before and during her performance. Austrian singer JJ, who won, has also called for Israel’s exclusion in 2026.
Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest JJ from Austria. Pic: AP
Israel has denied accusations it is committing genocide and claimed its actions have been in self-defence against Hamas. More than 64,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its military action.
In a statement following the vote in Spain, contest director Martin Green said he understood the “concerns and deeply held views around the ongoing conflict in the Middle East”, and that consultation with members is ongoing “to gather views on how we manage participation and geopolitical tensions”.
Broadcasters have until mid-December to conform if they want to take part.
What have others said?
The Netherlands was represented by Claude in Switzerland. Pic: Reuters
Dutch broadcaster AvroTros said last week that it was taking a stance in response to the loss of life in Gaza, with the deaths of journalists there a factor in the decision.
Irish broadcaster RTE said the country was taking the same stance, saying it was “unconscionable” to take part given the “ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza”.
Following his win in May, singer JJ said it was “disappointing to see Israel still participating”, according to Spanish newspaper El Pais. “I would like the next Eurovision to be held in Vienna and without Israel,” he added.
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The “potential impacts and consequences of either decision” are being assessed, the Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group said in a statament.
Next year’s Eurovision will be the 70th anniversary of the event, and will take place at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna on 16 May.
Owen Cooper, the star of TV drama Adolescence, has made history becoming the youngest to win an outstanding supporting actor Emmy.
Cooper, who is 15, played Jamie Miller in the highly-acclaimed Netflix series set in Liverpool.
Adolescence, which dominated Netflix’s most-watched list earlier this year, centres on the story of a 13-year-old boy arrested for the murder of a classmate.
It won a total of four Emmys.
Cooper was just 14 at the time of filming Adolescence and had never acted before.
Pic: Netflix
In his acceptance speech he said he was “nothing three years ago.”
“It’s just so surreal. Honestly, when I started these drama classes a couple years back, I didn’t expect to be even in the United States, never mind here.
“So I think tonight proves that if you listen and you focus and you step out your comfort zone, you can achieve anything in life.”
The four-part mini-series provoked a strong response from viewers and prompted a conversation in the UK – and worldwide – around misogyny and online safety, with co-creator Jack Thorne joining Prime Minister Keir Starmer for a discussion on the matter at the end of March.
It was also widely praised for its filming techniques, with each episode captured in one continuous take.
Gyllenhaal’s gift
Cooper’s co-star Erin Doherty (who played Jamie’s therapist) won best supporting actress in a limited series, director Philip Barantini took home the Emmy for outstanding directing for a limited or anthology series or movie, while writers Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham won for outstanding writing in the same category.
Before the awards ceremony, Cooper, from Warrington, had been surprised by his acting hero Jake Gyllenhaal, who walked in unannounced during an interview he was giving to press.
The pair hugged, and Gyllenhaal gave Cooper a small gift – a “lucky duck”.
“I made this movie [Brokeback Mountain], and I got nominated for an Academy Award, and a friend of mine sent me this before. Something just like this,” he said.
“It’s just a ‘Lucky Duck’ to keep in your pocket. To give you a little bit of luck.”
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