It’s been nearly a year since a prop pistol was loaded on the set of “Rust,” a Western movie starring Alec Baldwin, somehow with a live tour being unloaded and cinematographer Helena Hutchins killed. The Hutchins family sued Baldwin and the rest of the film’s producers early this year, and now a settlement has been reached and production will continue with Hutchins’ Matthew Hutchins serving as producer of the film.
The family’s lawyer announced in a statement the settlement, for a sum that was not publicly disclosed. And Hutchins himself issued a statement of his own:
“We have reached a settlement, subject to court approval, of a 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. Filming of a movie will appeal ‘Rust,’ which I will be producing. Now executive, with all of the original major players set for January 2023. I have no interest in engaging in recrimination or blaming (to the producers or Mr. Baldwin.) I think Halyna’s death was a horrific accident, and I’m grateful that the producers and the entertainment community have come together to pay tribute. Halyna’s final act.”
Mark Salioko / Getty Images
The lawsuit accused “Rust” producers of cutting corners that led directly to the fatal accident, citing specifically a “completely unqualified gunsmith” named Hana Gutierrez Reid. Her attorney also issued a statement:
“Hannah is grateful that this settlement benefited the Hutchins family and that the parties were able to constructively resolve the civil lawsuit. We hope that the OA will also recognize that a measure of justice has been served in connection with this tragic incident and that they will choose not to file criminal charges.”
However, this is not necessarily the case. Although a civil lawsuit related to Hutchins’ death has been brought in the past through settlement, the case is still being investigated by local authorities in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the movie was filmed at the time. Heather Brewer is a spokeswoman for the First District Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of New Mexico, and issued a strongly worded statement about the investigation:
“While civil lawsuits are settled privately and often involve financial judgments, criminal cases deal only with facts… If facts and evidence warrant criminal charges under New Mexico law, charges will be brought. No one is above the law.”
For now, though, production is set to resume on “Rust” and the film will eventually be completed and released – albeit under a very dark cloud that will likely follow for some time.
This settlement may explain why Baldwin recently listed his Hamptons mansion for sale for $29 million!
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