Actor Alec Baldwin’s seemingly doomed Western “Rust” is set to resume filming after the production company behind the movie agreed to settle the wrongful death lawsuit that was brought against it by the estate of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who died during an on-set shooting, according to producers on Wednesday. I honestly didn’t think this movie would ever see the light of day after what happened. I mean, the director was also injured during the shooting so you’d think folks involved in the making of the movie wouldn’t want to come back and finish the project, scared of another incident taking place.
According to the New York Post, Matthew Hutchins, the husband of the director of photography, will now be an executive producer on the movie. The production is set to start up again with the original cast sometime in January.
“In February, Matthew Hutchins filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Baldwin and the film’s producers after the actor shot and killed the cinematographer last October while rehearsing a scene. At the time, his attorneys said Baldwin was facing ‘significant… liability’ and their goal was to determine who was to blame for the incident but on Wednesday, Matthew Hutchins walked back those statements,” the report said.
“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,” Matthew Hutchins explained.
“I am grateful that the producers and the entertainment community have come together to pay tribute to Halyna’s final work,” he added.
The change in direction comes just two weeks after Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies came forward and stated she was preparing to criminally charge up to four individuals who were involved in the shooting, noting that Baldwin is a “possible defendant” in the case.
“The city’s top prosecutor told New Mexico’s finance board she’d need extra funding to prosecute the case and her office is ready to file charges now that the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office is nearly done with their investigation,” the New York Post said.
The settlement will need to be approved by the courts, however, it’s already being celebrated by the attorneys representing the film and Alec Baldwin.
“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 contributed to the resolution of this tragic and painful situation,” Baldwin’s lawyer Luke Nikas stated.
The director of the film, Joel Souza, who suffered a wound as a result of the shooting stated that he’s excited to get back to work and finish the movie.
“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,” Souza went on to say in a statement.
“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. I only wish the world had gotten to know her under different circumstances, as it surely would have through her amazing work,” the director added.
The question now is whether or not Baldwin will suffer any real consequences for his negligence on set, which resulted in the death of an innocent wife and mother. It seems unlikely, which once again demonstrates there is a two-tiered system of justice in the United States.
Rich left-wing celebrities can practically get away with anything and not worry about consequences.
