In film history, there are several examples of productions marked by on-set problems, and in some cases, tragic accidents. In recent years, one of the most notorious incidents has been that of Rust (United States, 2024), a western starring and produced by Alec Baldwin, during whose filming cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed by an accidental shooting.
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Now that the film is finally out, we tell you everything about it and what happened behind the cameras. What caused the accident and who was responsible? How was the film completed and what will happen to the money raised? Below, all the answers:
Everything you need to know about Rust and the Halyna Hutchins accident
What’s the movie about?
Wyoming Territory, 1882. Lucas Hollister (Patrick Scott McDermott), 13 years old, must care for his younger brother, Jacob, after their parents’ death. One day, trying to scare off a wolf, he accidentally shoots the father of a boy who was bullying Jacob, for which he is accused of murder, tried, and sentenced to hang.
However, one night, he is kidnapped by an old outlaw, Harland Rust (Alec Baldwin), who reveals himself to be his estranged grandfather. Together they escape to New Mexico with plans to cross the border. Despite their initial animosity, their bond strengthens during the dangerous journey through Native territory, while being pursued by lawmen and bounty hunters.
Who’s in the cast and crew of Rust?
The protagonists are Patrick Scott McDermott as Lucas Hollister and Alec Baldwin as Harland Rust. The cast is completed by Travis Fimmel as mercenary Fenton “Preacher” Lang, Josh Hopkins as Sheriff Wood Helm, and Frances Fisher as Lucas’s great-aunt.
The film is written and directed by Joel Souza, who has also directed other films such as Crown Vic (USA, 2019) and Hanna’s Gold (USA, 2010). Baldwin also serves as producer alongside Melina Spadone, Ryan Winterstern, Nathan Klingher, Matt DelPiano, Ryan Donnell Smith, Anjul Nigam, and Grant Hill.
At the start of filming, Rust was shot by Halyna Hutchins, a cinematographer known for independent productions. After her death on set, the work was completed based on her notes by Bianca Cline (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On).
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When and where is the movie released?
Rust was released in theaters on May 2, 2025. It was simultaneously released on streaming platforms such as Apple TV, the Amazon Prime Video Store and similar services.
What happened during the filming of Rust?
On October 21, 2021, during the filming of the movie in the ghost town of Bonanza City, New Mexico, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed and director Joel Souza was injured in the shoulder by a bullet fired from a revolver, in the hands of actor and producer Alec Baldwin. The gun was supposed to be a prop and Baldwin assumed it would only be loaded with dummy rounds. The responsibility for the weapon fell to Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the production’s armorer.
Who was Halyna Hutchins?
Halyna Hutchins, born Halyna Anatoliivna Androsovych on April 9, 1979; was a cinematographer originally from Horodets, Soviet Union (today Ukraine). Daughter of a Soviet military officer, she graduated with a journalism degree from the National University of Kyiv, and her entry into cinema came through her work on documentaries. She married an American, Matthew Hutchins, and they had a son.
Throughout her career, Hutchins worked as director of photography on about thirty feature films of various genres, mostly independent productions. Some titles in her filmography, besides Rust, include The Mad Hatter (USA, 2021), Archenemy (USA, 2020), and the short film Treacle (USA, 2020).
Hutchins and the on-set accident are the subject of the documentary Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna (USA, 2025), which you can watch on Hulu and Disney+.
Who was responsible for the accident and how did the case end?
The accident was investigated by various authorities, including the Santa Fe County Police and the FBI. In an affidavit obtained by Santa Fe Police, it was established that neither Baldwin nor the assistant director, David Halls, knew that the gun was loaded with live ammunition.
In 2023, Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed were charged by the district attorney with involuntary manslaughter. The actor and producer pleaded not guilty. Meanwhile, Halls opted for a no contest plea (nolo contendere), which implies accepting the penalty without a trial, but without admitting guilt, for the charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon.
Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of the involuntary manslaughter charge and not guilty of the evidence tampering charge. She was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Halls was sentenced to six months of probation, 24 hours of community service, and a $500 fine. The charges against Baldwin were dismissed by Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer for alleged concealment of evidence related to his innocence or conviction.
The legacy of the Rust case
Production continued after Hutchins’ family reached a settlement in 2022. Filming resumed in January 2023, with an updated cast as several actors had to leave the project. Some production team members were skeptical, although Hutchins’ husband stated that this is what the cinematographer would have wanted. She was replaced in production by cinematographer Bianca Cline, who based her work on Hutchins’ notes to replicate her style in cinematography.
However, the case opened a debate about the use of real weapons as props on film sets. One of the most vocal activists about proper training for handling firearms on film sets, and their use only when strictly necessary, is Shannon Lee, daughter of martial arts actor Bruce Lee and sister of actor Brandon Lee, who died in a similar accident during the filming of The Crow (1994).
In the United States, Rust premiered on May 2, 2025 in 115 theaters, grossing $25,000 on its opening day. The same day, it premiered on streaming in that country.
As an important note, all profits from the film Rust will be dedicated to Halyna Hutchins’ family.
