Alec Baldwin wraps 'Rust' filming nearly 18 months after fatal cinematographer shooting

Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY
·2 min read
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Alec Baldwin has officially wrapped up on the set of "Rust," nearly 18 months after the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Baldwin, 65, shared a selfie on Instagram Tuesday, revealing he shaved off his facial hair from his character in the Western film. "God, it felt good to shave off that beard…" he captioned the post.

The actor also reposted an Instagram Story from his on-set son Lucas, played by Patrick Scott McDermott, in which the two shared a hug. "Alec's last day. I'll miss you," McDermott wrote.

Baldwin returned to the "Rust" set in April in Montana amid legal drama. Plans to resume filming were outlined last year by widower Matthew Hutchins in a proposed settlement to a wrongful death lawsuit that would make him an executive producer on a rebooted "Rust."

Alec Baldwin resumed filming "Rust" in Montana in April.
Alec Baldwin resumed filming "Rust" in Montana in April.

'Rust' production continued amid legal setbacks

Baldwin's criminal charges in the fatal prop gun shooting of Hutchins on the set of "Rust" were dropped in April.

Ted Spaulding, founder of Atlanta-based Spaulding Injury Law, said production on the film would have carried on with or without Baldwin's charges being dropped.

"I don’t think this has any effect on 'Rust' continuing filming," he said. "The 'Rust' production was full steam ahead even before these charges were dropped."

Baldwin was pointing a pistol at Hutchins during a rehearsal for the Western film in October 2021 when the gun discharged, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin, also a producer on the film, claimed that the gun fired accidentally and that he did not pull the trigger. An FBI forensic report found the weapon could not have been fired unless the trigger was pulled.

New Mexico prosecutors were pursuing involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin and the film's weapons supervisor, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, before dropping the charges against the actor last month. Both pleaded not guilty.

Alec Baldwin involuntary manslaughter charges were dropped in fatal "Rust" shooting in April.
Alec Baldwin involuntary manslaughter charges were dropped in fatal "Rust" shooting in April.

Prosecutors dropped charges against Baldwin in April

Prosecutors filed a nolle prosequi on April 21 dismissing without prejudice the criminal case against Baldwin, noting that "new facts were revealed that demand further investigation and forensic analysis which cannot be completed" before the preliminary hearing. An investigation into the case remains "active and on-going," prosecutors added.

Special prosecutors Kari T. Morrissey and Jason J. Lewis elaborated on their decision in a statement to USA TODAY on April 20, saying that their decision to drop the charges "does not absolve Mr. Baldwin of criminal culpability and charges may be refiled."

Contributing: Charles Trepany, Marco della Cava and Edward Segarra, USA TODAY; Morgan Lee and Andrew Dalton, The Associated Press

More on the 'Rust' tragedy:

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alec Baldwin wraps filming 'Rust,' Western tied to fatal shooting

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