Alec Baldwin reaches settlement with estate of cinematographer killed on Rust set

Alec Baldwin and Rust Productions have reached a settlement with the estate of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was killed on the set of the film.

Matthew Hutchins, her widower, will be the executive producer on the film when production restarts in January next year, according to Deadline.

The family of Hutchins filed a wrongful death lawsuit on 15 February of this year following the cinematographer’s death on 21 October 2021. A prop gun held by Baldwin discharged after he was told by assistant director David Halls that the firearm was “cold”.

“We have reached a settlement, subject to court approval, for our wrongful death case against the producers of Rust, including Alec Baldwin and Rust Movie Productions, LLC. As part of that settlement, our case will be dismissed,” Mr Hutchins said in a statement on Wednesday, per Deadline. “The filming of Rust, which I will now executive produce, will resume with all the original principal players on board in January 2023.”

He went on to add that he has “no interest in engaging in recriminations or attribution of blame [to the producers or Baldwin].”

“All of us believe Halyna’s death was a terrible accident. I am grateful that the producers and the entertainment community have come together to pay tribute to Halyna’s final work,” he continued.

Melina Spadone of the law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman represents Rust Movie Productions, LLC.

“We are pleased the parties came together to resolve this matter, which, subject to court approval, marks an important step forward in celebrating Halyna’s life and honouring her work,” she said in a statement.

Luke Nikas at the Quinn Emanuel law firm represents Baldwin.

“Throughout this difficult process, everyone has maintained the specific desire to do what is best for Halyna’s son,” he said. “We are grateful to everyone who contributed to the resolution of this tragic and painful situation.”

Baldwin posted a similar statement on his Instagram on Wednesday morning.

Rust director Joel Souza said that “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. 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,” he added, according to Deadline. “Though certainly bittersweet, I am pleased that together, we will now complete 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.”

The lawsuit filed in February said that “defendant Baldwin, the producers, and the Rust production companies were aware of firearms safety issues that had occurred on the set of Rust and did not take action to correct the situation and ensure that basic gun safety rules were followed on 21 October 2021”.

“Had defendant Baldwin, the producers, and the Rust production companies taken adequate precautions to ensure firearm safety on the set of Rust or if basic firearm safety rules had been followed on the set ... Halyna Hutchins would be alive and well, hugging her husband and nine-year-old son,” the legal filing stated.

It’s been almost a year since the death of Hutchins, and the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office hasn’t filed any charges.

Last month, it was revealed that Santa Fe district attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies sent a letter to the New Mexico Board of Finance asking for $635,000 to prosecute up to four people, Deadline reported at the time.

The district attorney was afforded $317,750. She said in the letter that “one of the possible defendants is well-known movie actor Alec Baldwin”.

His attorney, Mr Nikas, said in response to the letter “that it would be premature to discuss the case because they had not yet reviewed the file or deliberated about their charging decision”.

“It is irresponsible to report otherwise,” he added, according to the outlet. “The DA has made clear that she has not received the sheriff’s report or made any decisions about who, if anyone, might be charged in this case.”

In April, Mr Nikas argued that Baldwin had been cleared by an OSHA report on what happened on the set of Rust.

Baldwin told ABC News in December of last year that he didn’t pull the trigger on the prop gun, which fired during the rehearsal of a quick draw scene in church on the set.

“I have been told by people who are in the know, in terms of even inside the state, that it’s highly unlikely that I would be charged with anything criminally,” Baldwin told the network at that time.