Alec Baldwin reaches settlement with son of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins

Alec Baldwin has reached a settlement with the son of Halyna Hutchins after the Rust cinematographer was shot dead on set.  

She died when a prop Colt .45 pistol was accidentally loaded with a live round and fired at her by the actor, 65, in October 2021.

Her husband Matthew Hutchins filed a wrongful death lawsuit in February 2022 which included the couple’s pre-teen son Andros Hutchins alleging that Baldwin and other producers acted recklessly and contributed to her being fatally shot. 

This was settled last October and the settlement has now been approved in court which means the family will be compensated for her death. 

A judge ruled that the settlement was in the best interests of Andros who was nine years old when his mother died. 

Alec Baldwin has reached a settlement with the son of Halyna Hutchins after the Rust cinematographer was shot dead on set

Hutchins, pictured with her son Andros, died when a prop Colt .45 pistol was accidentally loaded with a live round and fired at her by the actor, 65, in October 2021

Her husband Matthew Hutchins filed a wrongful death lawsuit in February 2022 which included the couple’s son Andros Hutchins alleging that Baldwin and other producers acted recklessly and contributed to her being fatally shot

The settlement was partly structured to compensate the child and proceedings have been kept confidential. 

The court appointed a guardian ad litem to serve as his legal advocate and they filed a report under seal. 

A portion of the settlement will be set aside for Hutchins’ son and he will gain access when he reaches 18 and 22, the judges order said. 

District Court Judge Bryan Biedscheid wrote: ‘The settlement … is fair, appropriate, and in the best interests of Andros Hutchins, a minor, protected person.’ 

Hutchins’ husband Matthew became an executive producer on the western film, which resumed production in Montana in May. 

He released a statement last year when the settlement was reached and said: ‘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.

‘I have no interest in engaging in recriminations or attribution of blame (to the producers or Mr. Baldwin).

‘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.’

Prosecutors in New Mexico dropped an involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin on April 21 and he returned to the set of the film the following day. 

But special prosecutors Jason Lewis and Kari Morrissey said in a statement: ‘This decision does not absolve Mr. Baldwin of criminal culpability and charges may be refiled.’

Baldwin took to social media on May 22 to mark the end of production on his film Rust.

The civil lawsuit was settled last October and the settlement has now been approved in court which means the family will be compensated for her death

Hutchins’ husband Matthew became an executive producer on the western film, which resumed production in Montana in May, following the settlement 

Prosecutors in New Mexico dropped an involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin on April 21 and he returned to the set of the film in Montana the following day

He wrapped up his work on the movie and shared an image of co-stars Frances Fisher, 71, and Patrick Scott McDermott, 14, in costume on the set of the Western.

‘Last day of filming RUST in Montana,’ Baldwin captioned the shot. ‘Sorry that I did not get to work with this living legend, the great @francesfisher. Patrick, I envy you.’

Baldwin said ‘it’s been a long and difficult road’ making the motion picture, about a year-and-a-half after the fatal shooting, ‘but we reach the end of the trail today.’

Baldwin congratulated the film’s director Joel Souza, who was also shot in the incident; as well as Bianca Cline, who replaced Hutchins at cinematographer when production picked back up, as well as ‘the entire cast and crew.’

The actor said it was ‘nothing less than a miracle’ that filming on the movie concluded, more than a year-and-a-half following the shooting of Hutchins, followed by a number of legal issues, and considerable skepticism the project would move forward.

Filming of the movie began in New Mexico on October 6, 2021, but was put on indefinite hold two weeks later after a prop gun held by Baldwin discharged, wounding Souza and killing Hutchins. 

Baldwin would eventually be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, in New Mexico, but the criminal charges against Baldwin were dropped in April and he returned to the set to finish filming his scenes in Montana the very next day.

Baldwin and other Rust producers settled a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Hutchins’ widower Matthew Hutchins in October 2022.

The team also agreed to complete the movie with Hutchins as an executive producer, along with Cline completing his late wife’s work as cinematographer.

On Monday, May 15, the Oscar-nominated actor announced he was wrapping up Rust in an Instagram post in which he was pictured next to McDermott.

Baldwin took to social media on May 22 to mark the end of production on his film Rust 

On May 15, the Oscar-nominated actor announced he was wrapping up Rust in an Instagram post in which he was pictured next to McDermott

After finishing the movie, Baldwin shared how it ‘felt good to shave off that beard’ he grew out for the film

‘Last day on the set of RUST with this guy. A very talented actor and lovely young man with a bright future ahead. My love to you, @patrickscottmcdermott,’ he wrote.

Later that day, Baldwin showed off a freshly shaven face, writing in the caption, ‘God, it felt good to shave off that beard…’

During the last rounds of filming, the New York native shared photos taken on the set, including a couple with his young co-star Easton Malcolm, whom he called ‘the next Brad Pitt’ in a post on April 30.

‘Saying goodbye to my co-star EASTON MALCOLM wasn’t easy,’ Baldwin shared the next day. ‘Thanks, Brett, for sharing him with us. We love you, Easton.’

In the Western, Baldwin plays an infamous outlaw Harland Rust, who comes out of hiding to stop his 13-year-old grandson from being hanged for murder.