Alec Baldwin news: Actor in Instagram spat as Rust to resume filming despite charges

Alec Baldwin, Hannah Gutierrez Reed and David Halls face charges over the fatal on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins

'There's nothing we can do to bring his mother back': Alec Baldwin on Rust movie shooting

Alec Baldwin has shared his first family photo since it was announced he faces involuntary manslaughter charges.

The actor, who will continue to film Rust despire being charged in the on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, posted the image on Instagram.

It shows his wife Hilaria Baldwin, and their six-year-old son Leo.

Melina Spadone, an attorney for the production of the western, confirmed the news on Friday to CNN, adding that “on-set safety supervisors and union crew members ... will bar any use of working weapons or any ammunition.”

Mr Baldwin is one of three cast and crew members facing charges over the accidental shooting, New Mexico prosecutors announced on Thursday. Armourer Hannah Gutierrez Reed has also been charged with involuntary manslaughter, while first assistant director David Halls has agreed to plead guilty to negligent use of a deadly weapon.

A person with knowledge of the film had previously told The New York Times that Baldwin would still serve as the film’s lead and Joel Souza, who was wounded in the shooting, will return as director.

Thursday’s decision comes more than 15 months after the fatal October 2021 shooting, when a gun held by Baldwin discharged on set. A single bullet fatally struck Hutchins in the chest before striking Souza in the shoulder.

Baldwin has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and maintained that he was told the gun was “cold”.

Key points

• SAG-AFTRA condemns Baldwin’s charges in blistering statement
• Mickey Rourke defends Baldwin over charges
• Alec Baldwin vows to ‘fight’ involuntary manslaughter charges
• Read the DA’s reasons for charging Alec Baldwin in full
• Alec Baldwin tweets about David Crosby’s death hours after being charged in Rust shooting

[23 January 2023 06:18 · Peony Hirwani]

Halyna Hutchins’ family react to manslaughter charges

ICYMI: Halyna Hutchins’ family react to manslaughter charges

On Thursday (19 January), the family of Halyna Hutchins released a statement in response to the news that Alec Baldwin, among others would be charged with involuntary manslaughter for her death.

Hutchins, 42, was shot by Mr Baldwin, who was starring in and producing the movie, during a rehearsal inside a church on the set on 21 October 2021.

In a message delivered through lawyer Brian Panish, the family thanked the Santa Fe sheriff and the District Attorney “for concluding their thorough investigation and determining that charges for involuntary manslaughter are warranted for the killing of Halyna Hutchins with conscious disregard for human life”.

They later went on to state that the announcement is a “comfort for the family”.

The Independent’s Graeme Massie has the full story:

[23 January 2023 06:38 · Peony Hirwani]

Alec Baldwin will finish filming Rust as lead star despite involuntary manslaughter charges

Alec Baldwin will finish filming Rust as lead star despite involuntary manslaughter charges

Rust production’s attorney Melina Spadone told CNN on Friday that “on-set safety supervisors and union crew members ... will bar any use of working weapons or any ammunition,” just a day after New Mexico prosecutors announced charges against three of the movie’s original crew.

The Independent has the story:

[23 January 2023 07:08 · Peony Hirwani]

Alec Baldwin shares photo of wife and son in first post since pending criminal charges

Alec Baldwin has shared a photograph of his wife Hilaria and six-year-old son Leo in the first post since he was charged with involuntary manslaughter surrounding Halyna Hutchins’s death.

“The old “let me give you a back rub” ploy. Potato chips to follow.“ the Rust actor captioned the photo.

[23 January 2023 07:38 · Peony Hirwani]

Mickey Rourke says there’s ‘no way in hell’ Alec Baldwin should be charged over Halyna Hutchins’ death

Mickey Rourke has spoken out in defence of Alec Baldwin, saying there is “no way in hell” he should face charges over the death of Halyna Hutchins.

Responding to the news on Instagram, Rourke wrote: “I usually never put my two cents in about what happens on someone’s movie set. It’s a terrible tragedy what happened to cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. But no way in hell actor Alec Baldwin should be charged with any negligence whatsoever.”

Louis Chilton has the story for The Independent:

[23 January 2023 08:18 · Peony Hirwani]

Halyna Hutchins’s husband previously said he felt ‘anger’ towards Alec Baldwin

In February 2022, Halyna Hutchins’s husband said he felt “angry” seeing the actor speak about his wife’s death “so publicly”.

“I was angry to see him talk about her death so publicly in such a detailed way, and then to not accept responsibility after having just described killing her,” said Matt Hutchins on the Today show last year.

“The idea that the person holding the gun causing it to discharge is not rep is absurd to me.”

[23 January 2023 08:48 · Peony Hirwani]

Who else was injured in the incident on set?

Director Joel Souza was also impacted by the gun discharged by Alec Baldwin on the Rust set.

He was admitted to the hospital with a gunshot wound in October 2021 and was discharged soon after.

According to a source with knowledge of the film speaking to The New York Times, Souza will return to the film as director, while Baldwin will also resume his lead role.

[23 January 2023 09:28 · Peony Hirwani]

What were Halyna Hutchins’ last words?

The last words spoken by Halyna Hutchins in the moments after she was shot have been revealed.

Ms Hutchins, director of photography for the Western film Rust, died on 21 October 2021 after being shot by a gun held by actor Alec Baldwin, who’d believed it was filled with dummy rounds instead of gunpowder and a projectile.

Seconds after she was struck, Ms Hutchins cried out to a boom operator: “That was no good. That was no good at all,” according to a Los Angeles Times report based on interviews with 14 crew members.

Find out more in the story below:

[23 January 2023 09:58 · Jacob Stolworthy]

Who is being charged following the death of Halyna Hutchins on the ‘Rust’ set?

Three people face involuntary manslaughter charges following the death of director of photography Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western film, Rust.

It was announced on Thursday that Alec Baldwin would face two counts of involuntary manslaughter after discharging the gun that shot Hutchins, while he practised a gun-drawing technique.

The film’s armourer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, also faces the same charges.

David Halls, the first assistant director for Rust, has agreed to plead guilty to the charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon.

Each charge carries a punishment of up to 18 months in prison.

[23 January 2023 10:28 · Jacob Stolworthy]

ICYMI: Mickey Rourke says there’s ‘no way in hell’ Alec Baldwin should be charged over Rust shooting death

Mickey Rourke reacted to the charging of his fellow Hollywood colleague Alec Baldwin soon after the news broke on Thursday.

Baldwin and two other Rust crew members have been charged after the death of the film’s director of photography, Halyna Hutchins in 2021.

Rourke spoke out against the involuntary manslaughter charges, claiming “no way in hell actor Alec Baldwin should be charged with any negligence whatsoever”.

The full story, from The Independent’s Louis Chilton, is below:

[23 January 2023 10:58 · Jacob Stolworthy]

Prosecutors seek justice in Alec Baldwin case, regardless of fame

Prosecutors have vowed to file those charges before February against the 64-year-old actor and weapons specialist Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the Western movie “Rust” in October 2021.

Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies says the case is about equal justice under the law and accountability in the death of Halyna Hutchins, regardless of the fame or fortune of those involved.

She says the Ukrainian-born cinematographer’s death while rehearsing a scene was tragic — and preventable.

Mr Baldwin and Ms Gutierrez-Reed maintain their innocence and have vowed to fight the charges, which were announced Thursday.