Settlement Reached
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‘Rust’ Movie Productions Reaches Settlement With Halyna Hutchins Estate; Filming To Resume In January, Matthew Hutchins To Executive Produce
Anthony D'Alessandro and Dominic Patten
Wed, October 5, 2022 at 9:07 AM
EXCLUSIVE: (UPDATED WITH STATEMENT FROM ALEC BALDWIN) Rust Productions and its star and producer Alec Baldwin have reached a settlement with the estate of slain cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. As part of the peace, the DP’s husband Matthew Hutchins will executive produce Rust, which will return to production in January 2023 with the original cast.
The Hutchins family had filed a wrongful death lawsuit back on Feb. 15 over the shooting of the DoP which occurred on October. 21, 2021 when Baldwin discharged a prop gun after being informed by the production AD David Halls that the weapon was “cold.”
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“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,” said Matthew Hutchins this morning.
“The filming of Rust, which I will now executive produce, will resume with all the original principal players on board in January 2023,” added Hutchins.
“I have no interest in engaging in recriminations or attribution of blame (to the producers or Mr. Baldwin),” he added, “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.”
Today’s announcement comes as the final report of the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office’s investigation into Hutchins’ death and what really went down at the Bonanza Creek ranch that terrible day is expected to be handed over soon to local District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies. Several Rust crew members such as armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, have already filed ongoing civil lawsuits of their own in New Mexico and California.
Rust Movie Productions, LLC, through its attorney, Melina Spadone of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, said: “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 honoring her work.”
Baldwin’s attorney, Luke Nikas of Quinn Emanuel, added: “Throughout this difficult process, everyone has maintained the specific desire to do what is best for Halyna’s son. We are grateful to everyone who contributed to the resolution of this tragic and painful situation.”
Later this AM, the Oscar nominated actor of The Cooler added this on Instagram, “We are pleased to announce today the settlement of the civil case filed on behalf of the family of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Throughout this difficult process, everyone has maintained the specific desire to do what is best for Halyna’s son. We are grateful to everyone who contributed to the resolution of this tragic and painful situation.”
Joel Souza, Director of Rust, said: “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. 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 honoring Halyna’s legacy and making her proud. It is a privilege to see this through on her behalf.”
The Hutchins original lawsuit in February read “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 October 21, 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 of Rust on October 21, 2021, Halyna Hutchins would be alive and well, hugging her husband and nine-year old son.”
Close to a year since the tragic incident occurred, the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office has yet to charge anyone.
Last month, Deadline obtained a letter from Santa Fe D.A. Carmack-Altwies to the New Mexico Board of Finance requesting $635K to prosecute as many as four individuals with criminal and homicide charges related to the Rust tragedy (the DA was granted $317,750). The DA said in her letter that “one of the possible defendants is well known movie actor Alec Baldwin.” Nikas, speaking on behalf o Baldwin, responded to the DA’s 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,” Nikas blasted at the time, “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.”
Nikas stated back in April that the Rust OSHA report “exonerates” Baldwin.
In an ABC news interview with George Stephanopoulos last December, Baldwin insisted he never actually pulled the trigger of the gun which took Hutchins’ life during a quick draw rehearsal move in a church location on the set of Rust.
Baldwin also told Stephanopoulos back in December, “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.”
Comments
I'd like to know how much money was shelled out. My brother is a hotshot Atlanta lawyer. Several years ago, four 22 year old senior girls from Georgia Southern, RN majors, were driving down I 16 to do training at the big Savannah hospital.
Stopped at a traffic jam they were rear ended by an 18 wheeler and all 4 burned to death. My brother was involved in that case, and the family of each nurse gal received $15 million. Or, each family got ten and the lawyer got five. The money is based on the age of the deceased, what career they had, ie how much money they could have made had they lived, how many orphan children they might have left etc.
I was saying that Baldwin would shell out $10 million. Most or all covered by insurance, plus Baldwin has a net worth of $65 million.
I don't think it is going to hurt him financially
I hope they hang all of them.
How could a man continue to work with the individuals or company that was directly the cause of his wife's death? No way in H*@@ could I do it.
Honestly they should've had the production insurance pay out and shelved that hot mess. Not like anyone's gonna see it. Unless they get paid more if it's completed and utter failure?
He should be in jail, not paying someone off to stay free
He can still be prosecuted.
I absolutely cannot respect anyone who will not take responsibility for their own actions.
Instead of blaming others he should face the truth, be a man and admit to pulling the trigger.
The world can be a crazy place sometimes. Good people who are loved, and do so much good die too early, while people like Baldwin go on living.
I could not care less.
The whole Baldwin family of brothers suck as actors.........
Not losing a tear.
I cant speak about the rest of them, but he is a spineless fool
That (the above) is the Civil side of things. There is still the Criminal side of things and the investigation over someone losing their life. I still hope that Baldwin is ultimately charged with Criminally Negligent Homicide. He should be.
Maybe they will make a movie about this
They could call it "The Good the Bad and the Spineless"
Clint Eastwood could be the Exec. Producer.
They would make a movie about it but they are probably afraid that Baldwin would just shoot somebody again.