‘Rust’ premieres 3 years after Halyna Hutchins’s death — without Alec Baldwin in attendance

Rust has made it to the big screen three years after a prop gun held by the film’s star Alec Baldwin killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set.

Director Joel Souza screened the western film at the Camerimage Film Festival in Toruń, Poland, on Nov. 20. Souza — who was also shot during the set accident in Santa Fe, N.M. — participated in a Q&A after the screening with Bianca Cline, who took over cinematographer duties when the film went back into production.

Hutchins’s friend the director Rachel Mason spoke ahead of the screening. Mason is directing a documentary about Hutchins’s life and work.

Baldwin, who said he was told that the prop gun did not contain any live rounds, was not invited to attend the festival, an event spokesperson told NBC News.

At the screening, the film received a “polite response” with audience members clapping through the closing credits, NBC News reported. When a dedication to Hutchins appeared onscreen, the applause increased. The outlet also noted that “a fair amount of moviegoers left the theater” prior to the Hutchins tribute and Souza’s Q&A.

Souza told Variety that “it was not an easy decision” to resume production. “I initially said no, numerous times. But it started to become clear to me that this is what the family wanted, that it was going to benefit them.”

Souza also said he did it to honor Hutchins’s final project and help Hutchins’s family, saying, “I don’t want people to think it was just some cynical money grab. The producers don’t get a penny from the movie.”

Hutchins’s widow, Matthew Hutchins, who was named an executive producer on Rust as part of a wrongful death lawsuit settlement agreement, did not attend the screening, nor did the couple’s son, Andros.

Olga Solovey — Hutchins’s mother, who is currently suing Baldwin and the production — also skipped the event. In a Nov. 19 statement, she said Baldwin’s “refusal to apologize to me and … take responsibility for her death” has left her deeply pained.

Baldwin cleared of criminal charges

The shooting took place on Oct. 21, 2021, at the Bonzana Creek Ranch while Baldwin — also a producer on the film — and Rust crew members were rehearsing in a wooden church set. Baldwin, who plays outlaw Harland Rust, was practicing drawing his gun at the time. He was told the weapon was a “cold gun,” or not containing live ammunition. He said the vintage Colt .45 discharged without his pulling the trigger.

The bullet went through Hutchins’s chest area and lodged in Souza’s shoulder. Hutchins was airlifted to an Albuquerque hospital, where she died. Souza was taken by ambulance to a Santa Fe hospital and was released the next day.

Baldwin was twice charged with involuntary manslaughter in Hutchins’s death. The actor, who was accused of violating gun safety rules, went to trial in July, but the case was dismissed midway through. The judge determined that prosecutors and police withheld evidence related to the live round.

Baldwin, who still faces civil lawsuits over Hutchins’s death, has said he may sue prosecutors and the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office over the case.

The film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in March after a jury determined she was responsible for taking live rounds onto the set. After the shooting, five additional live rounds were discovered on the set, on the prop cart and in Baldwin’s gun belt. Gutierrez-Reed is serving 18 months in prison.

The film’s first assistant director, David Halls, was sentenced to six months unsupervised probation as part of a plea deal. He admitted he failed to check the weapon before giving it to Baldwin.

The film resumed production in April 2023 at Yellowstone Film Ranch in Montana. A couple of cast members did not return, including Jensen Ackles, according to Variety. Frances Fisher, Travis Fimmel and Josh Hopkins co-star with Baldwin.

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