Alec Baldwin Rust shooting: Details of film restart announced – with documentary about cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’ life also in the works

Published

2 years ago

February 14, 2023

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Filming on the western film Rust will resume in the spring, producers have announced, more than a year on from the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on set.

A documentary about Hutchins‘ life and final work, which will include the completion of the movie, is also in the works alongside the production, supported by her husband.

The 42-year-old died after a prop gun held by Rust star and producer Alec Baldwin, 64, was discharged during rehearsals in October 2021. Director Joel Souza was also wounded in the incident, which took place on the Bonanza Creek Ranch set in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

In January, following a lengthy investigation, Baldwin and the film’s armourer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, were charged with involuntary manslaughter, while assistant director Dave Halls has entered into a plea agreement to the charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon.

Baldwin’s lawyer has called the case a “terrible miscarriage of justice” and vowed to fight the charges. The star is also facing a new civil lawsuit from Hutchins’ parents and sister.

Despite the legal cases, he is due to return to the film in his acting role and as a producer, Sky News understands. Filming will no longer take place in New Mexico, but as yet, no details about the new location have been announced.

As previously announced, Souza will return to direct, and the cinematographer’s husband Matthew Hutchins – who settled a civil lawsuit in October – will serve as an executive producer. He will be joined by the Oscar-nominated Grant Hill (The Thin Red Line, The Tree of Life), alongside the original producers.

A statement from Rust Movie Productions said Matthew Hutchins had chosen cinematographer Bianca Cline (Marcel the Shell With Shoes On) to complete his wife’s vision for the film, and that she will donate her salary to charity.

The production will continue to use union crew members and will bar any use of working weapons and any form of ammunition. “Live ammunition is – and always was – prohibited on set,” the producers said.

‘Completing what Halyna and I started’

In a statement, Souza said: “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.

“My every effort on this film will be devoted to honouring Halyna’s legacy and making her proud. It is a privilege to see this through on her behalf.”

Two safety officers will be among the new crew members joining the production, Rust Movie Productions said, while original crew members returning include stunt co-ordinator Allan Graf and costume designer Terese Davis.

The documentary on Hutchins’ life will be directed by Rachel Mason, with Julee Metz producing and Matthew Hutchins also serving as executive producer.

“Both Mason and Metz were close friends with Halyna, and they look forward to working with the production to honour their friend,” the producers’ statement said.

What happens next in the criminal case?

Baldwin is due to make his first court appearance in relation to the case on Friday 24 February. He is likely to appear virtually.

In her report, Santa Fe’s district attorney alleged the actor had shown “wilful disregard” for the safety of others in the days leading up to the incident and was not present for “mandatory” firearms training.

Instead, he had undergone a 30-minute on-set session, during which he was distracted by a phone call to his family, the prosecutor said.

Her statement added that on the day of the shooting, there were “no less than a dozen acts, or omissions of recklessness” on the set in the period prior to the incident.

Baldwin is facing two charges of involuntary manslaughter in relation to Hutchins’ death.

The first can be referred to as involuntary manslaughter and requires proof of underlying negligence. The second charge is involuntary manslaughter in the commission of a lawful act, which requires proof that there was more than simple negligence involved in a death; it also includes a firearm enhancement, which makes the crime punishable by a mandatory five years in prison.

The star is attempting to have the more serious charge thrown out. Lawyers for the actor argue that New Mexico prosecutors committed an “unconstitutional and elementary legal error” by charging him under a statute that did not exist at the time of the fatal shooting.

The new lawsuit from Hutchins’ Ukrainian family

Meanwhile, a civil lawsuit has been filed by Hutchins’ Ukrainian parents and younger sister, who works as a nurse on the outskirts of the capital city of Kyiv and is married to a man fighting in the war against Russia.

The new lawsuit alleges negligence and the depravation of benefits, based on the emotional or financial support that Hutchins previously provided to her sister and parents.

The lawsuit also names a list of Rust crew members, an ammunition supplier, producers of the film and affiliated businesses as defendants.

It seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages as well as legal costs.

Baldwin in turn has filed his own lawsuits against people involved in handling and supplying the loaded gun. He has said he was told the gun was safe.

Entertainment

Glastonbury 2025 line-up revealed

Published

9 hours ago

March 6, 2025

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The 1975 and Olivia Rodrigo will be among the stars headlining Glastonbury Festival this year, it has been announced.

Glastonbury organisers have revealed the line-up for this summer’s event, taking place between 25 June and 29 June, after months of speculation.

The 1975 will take to the iconic Pyramid Stage on the Friday to headline, then Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young will perform on Saturday and Olivia Rodrigo on the Sunday.

Other big names performing include British pop sensation Charli XCX, rapper Loyle Carner electronic group The Prodigy.

The announcement comes after Sir Rod Stewart was booked for the Sunday teatime legend slot and Young was confirmed as a headliner earlier this year.

Young’s announcement in January came amid some confusion, as he had days before told fans he was pulling out of the festival because the BBC’s involvement was a “corporate turn-off”.

The Canadian singer-songwriter later said this decision was down to “an error in the information I received”.

The 1975 will be headlining for the first time, having made their Glastonbury debut in 2014.

The Cheshire band, known for hits such as Somebody Else and Chocolate, have regularly made headlines due to the antics of frontman Matty Healy.

Glastonbury, which takes place at Worthy Farm in Somerset in the summer, has worked closely with the BBC – its exclusive broadcast partner – since 1997.

Appetite for the esteemed festival saw standard tickets sell out in 35 minutes in November.

They cost £373.50 plus a £5 booking fee, up £18.50 from the price from the 2024 festival, and were sold exclusively through the See Tickets website.

The date for the resale – where tickets not fully paid for are put back up for purchase – is set for some time in spring.

The headliners last summer on the iconic Pyramid Stage were Dua Lipa, SZA and Coldplay, who made history as the first act to headline the festival five times.

2026 is likely to be a year off for Glastonbury, with the festival traditionally taking place four out of every five years, and the fifth year reserved for rehabilitation of the land.

Entertainment

Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX BRIT Awards appearances spark hundreds of Ofcom complaints

Published

1 day ago

March 5, 2025

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Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX BRIT Awards appearances spark hundreds of Ofcom complaints

Ofcom received 825 complaints over the Brit Awards, with the majority relating to Sabrina Carpenter’s raunchy performance and Charli XCX’s outfit, the media watchdog says.

US pop star Carpenter, 25, sported a red sparkly military-style blazer dress for her performance at the awards show on Saturday night, paired with stockings and suspenders for a rendition of Espresso.

The song was mixed with a Rule Britannia mash-up, as dancers in military parade dress followed her.

She then switched to a red sparkly bra and shorts for her next song, Bad Chem, which she performed alongside dancers in bras and shorts while sitting suggestively on a large bed.

Carpenter later received the global success award at the ceremony, and was also nominated in the international artist and international song of the year categories.

But much of the buzz on social media surrounded her performance, which took place before the 9pm watershed.

Ofcom said some of the complaints were also aimed at British pop sensation Charli XCX, who dominated the night by winning five awards, including album of the year.

Some viewers took issue with her outfit – a black see-through dress.

The singer addressed the concerns during her acceptance speech for artist of the year, saying: “I heard that ITV were complaining about my nipples. I feel like we’re in the era of ‘free the nipple’ though, right?”

Carpenter paid tribute to the UK in her acceptance speech, saying: “The Brits have given me this award, and this feels like such an insane honour in a very primarily tea-drinking country… you really understood my dry sense of humour because your sense of humour is so, so dry. So I love y’all more than you even understand.”

Entertainment

Why is Noel Clarke suing The Guardian?

Published

1 day ago

March 5, 2025

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Actor Noel Clarke begins his High Court libel case against The Guardian’s publisher today.

Clarke, 49, is suing Guardian News and Media (GNM) over a series of articles it published about him in April 2021.

They were based on the claims of 20 women Clarke knew “in a professional capacity” who allege his behaviour towards them amounted to sexual misconduct.

Clarke, known for his roles in the Kidulthood trilogy and Dr Who, “vehemently” denies “any sexual misconduct or wrongdoing”.

What will the trial cover?

Clarke is suing GNM for libel, sometimes also referred to as defamation.

It’s a civil tort – not a criminal offence – defined as false written statements that have damaged the person’s reputation. This means Clarke can seek redress or damages but no one will face charges or prison.

Clarke claims the articles The Guardian published in 2021 altered public opinion of him, damaged his reputation, and lost him work.

He said after the allegations emerged: “In a 20-year career, I have put inclusivity and diversity at the forefront of my work and never had a complaint made against me.

“If anyone who has worked with me has ever felt uncomfortable or disrespected, I sincerely apologise. I vehemently deny any sexual misconduct or wrongdoing and intend to defend myself against these false allegations.”

The Guardian is defending the claim on the basis of truth and public interest.

It said in its statement: “Our reporting on Noel Clarke in 2021 was based on the accounts of 20 brave women. After we published our first article, more women came forward.

“At trial, 32 witnesses are set to testify against Mr Clarke under oath. We look forward to a judge hearing the evidence.”

The trial will only focus on liability – not the amount of damages to be paid if Clarke is successful.

The actor tried and failed to get the case struck out in January, with his legal team saying it had “overwhelming evidence” of “perversion of the course of justice”.

His lawyers told the High Court three of the journalists involved in the articles had “deliberately and permanently” deleted messages, which meant he could not get a fair trial.

Lawyers for GNM told the court there was “no adequate evidential basis” for Clarke’s application for a strike out and said it sought “to smear Guardian journalists and editors without any proper justification”.

The trial, which will be presided over by judge Mrs Justice Steyn, is expected to last between four and six weeks.

What has happened since the articles were published?

A month before the articles about him were published in April 2021, Clarke received BAFTA’s outstanding contribution to British cinema award.

However, once the allegations against him emerged, he was suspended by the organisation and the prize rescinded.

His management and production company 42M&P told Sky News they were no longer representing him and Sky cancelled its TV show Bulletproof, starring Clarke and Top Boy actor Ashley Walters as the lead roles.

ITV also decided to pull the finale of another of his dramas, Viewpoint, following the Guardian articles.

The Met Police looked into the allegations against Clarke for any potential criminal wrongdoing, but in March 2022 announced they “did not meet the threshold for criminal investigation”.

Clarke filed the libel claim the following month and has attended several of the preliminary hearings in person.

He says he has faced a “trial by media” – and that the ordeal has left him suicidal and in need of professional help.

‘Rising star’

Clarke made his TV debut in a revived version of Auf Wiedersehen Pet in 2002.

Soon after he played Mickey Smith in Dr Who and Kwame in the six-part Channel 4 series Metrosexuality.

He wrote and starred in the film trilogy Kidulthood, Adulthood, and Brotherhood, which were based in west London, where he grew up, and explored the lives of a group of teenagers given time off school after a bullied classmate takes their own life.

It was a box office success and eventually saw Clarke given BAFTA’s rising star prize in 2009.

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.