Actor Alec Baldwin will face criminal charges in the accidental, on-set fatal shooting of a cinematographer. What now for 'Rust'?
finance.yahoo.com
With the Alec Baldwin charges, what will happen to the production of 'Rust'?
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Matthew Hutchins, the widower of
Halyna Hutchins, joined the production in October as an executive producer, as part of a wrongful death lawsuit settlement with Alec Baldwin and the other producers. Hutchins said finishing the film would be a "tribute to Halyna’s final work."
However, significant roadblocks exist in restarting filming.
With Thursday's
announcement of felony charges expected to be filed against Baldwin in the accidental firing of a prop gun that killed Hutchins, questions are swirling as to when, if ever, the film will get made.
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When Halyna Hutchins’ family settled a
wrongful death lawsuit against Baldwin and other "Rust" film producers in October, part of the deal was that the film would resume production.
With Matthew Hutchins, the cinematographer's husband, as an executive producer, it was announced the western would pick up again, with all the original principal players on board, in January 2023.
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The full details of the settlement were not disclosed. Although it is unclear whether the film would be profitable, the filmmakers need to complete the project to qualify for the New Mexico film tax incentive they applied for in mid-2021.
The film's director, Joel Souza, signaled he was also on board. He was injured by the same bullet
that killed Hutchins.
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Along with the charges, which are expected to be filed later this month, New Mexico’s First Judicial Dist. Atty. Mary Carmack-Altwies, could
impose pretrial conditions that would prevent Baldwin from returning to the scene of the alleged crime, handling weapons on set or having contact with witnesses.
Baldwin was a producer and a starring member of the cast. Filming had taken place at the Bonanza Creek Ranch, outside of Santa Fe, N.M.
Melina Spadone, attorney for the "Rust" production, declined to comment on plans to restart filming or on where filming would occur. Previously, Spadone told Variety that producers were not returning to film in New Mexico and
were considering filming in California.
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