After three and a half years since the fatal shooting on the set of "Rust" in New Mexico, the much-anticipated western film is finally making its debut. On October 21, 2021, Alec Baldwin accidentally shot and killed the film's cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, an incident that led to extensive investigations, numerous lawsuits, and two criminal trials. The film will be available for streaming at a price of $14.99 on platforms such as Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, and other video-on-demand services starting late Thursday.
Beginning Friday, "Rust" will also be screened in select theaters, notably at Laemmle’s venues in Encino and Santa Monica. Despite efforts by the producers to showcase "Rust" at prestigious film festivals, the film will premiere in Poland instead. Major movie chains like AMC and streaming giants such as Netflix have opted not to feature the film, which is produced by Baldwin, Anjul Nigam, and Ryan Donnell Smith, among others.
Directed by Joel Souza, who was injured during the shooting incident, "Rust" tells the story of Harland Rust, played by Baldwin, a rugged outlaw who survives a gunshot wound while trying to help his grandson, Lucas, portrayed by Patrick Scott McDermott. The narrative unfolds in the 1880s, following the aftermath of a tragic event that caused production to halt after Hutchins' death near Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Santa Fe County sheriff’s deputies and New Mexico’s occupational safety agents took control of the Bonanza Creek Ranch, the film's original location, to investigate the shooting.
The investigation, which lasted over a year, led to criminal charges against three individuals: Baldwin, armorer Hannah Gutierrez, and assistant director David Halls, responsible for on-set safety. However, three days into Baldwin's high-profile trial in July, a state judge dismissed all charges due to misconduct by a special prosecutor and detectives who were accused of withholding evidence from Baldwin's defense team. In a further development, Baldwin filed a malicious prosecution civil lawsuit against New Mexico.
Earlier this year, Gutierrez was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and has served nearly 14 months in prison, with her release expected later this month, according to her attorney, Jason Bowles. Halls pleaded no contest to a negligent use of a deadly weapon and has since left the film industry, citing lingering trauma from the incident. The filmmakers expressed their desire to complete the film as a tribute to Hutchins and her artistry, while insurance settlements necessitated its distribution. Proceeds from the film are set to aid in settling a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Hutchins’ husband, Matthew, who became an executive producer of "Rust," along with their son. Hutchins’ family in Ukraine has also filed a separate wrongful death lawsuit.
When production resumed about 18 months after Hutchins’ death, cinematographer Bianca Cline took over as director of photography. There were significant changes in the cast as well, with actors Jensen Ackles and Swen Temmel not appearing in the final version. Baldwin's new co-stars include Josh Hopkins, Travis Fimmel, and Frances Fisher. Initially set in rural Kansas, the film's backdrop has shifted to the rugged mountains of Wyoming.
The New Mexico film set had a troubled history prior to the accident. Crew members had quit the night before the shooting, raising safety concerns about accidental gun discharges and inadequate housing. Many crew members assumed that production would be halted to address these issues; however, producers decided to proceed despite limited staffing. On the day of the incident, the crew was behind schedule, and there were no media villages available for Souza and Hutchins to monitor scenes effectively.
Hutchins sought a specific camera angle of Baldwin as he drew his prop gun inside a dusty wooden church, leading to the tragic event that unfolded. In a recent interview, Souza reflected, “You think about the chain of events that started that morning. Bad decision after bad decision was made. I wish I never wrote the damn movie.”
Theatrical distribution of "Rust" is being managed by Falling Forward Films, while Ascending Media Group oversees the video-on-demand release. The film has a runtime of 2 hours and 13 minutes. Additionally, Hutchins' friends have produced a documentary titled “Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna,” which is available for streaming on Hulu.
