Actor Alec Baldwin has had a difficult time coping with the accidental death of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. She was shot after a prop gun held by Baldwin accidentally fired a bullet. The incident happened in 2021, and the movie saw its release in 2024.
While speaking to Variety at the Torino Film Festival, the actor said this was the most difficult experience he had to go through. However, he felt that more than the victims of the incident, it was his wife, Hilaria Baldwin, who had to go through enough pain, and hence they wanted to put the incident behind them.
When asked whether he would like to see the final cut of Rust, Alec Baldwin replied negatively, saying,
“My wife has been very, very traumatized from this. There has been a lot of pain. When you are married to somebody and everything was going fairly well and we had seven kids… and the floor falls out. It’s very frightening and very disturbing.”
According to People Magazine, Hilaria Baldwin is a yoga instructor, entrepreneur, and also an author. She co-founded Yoga Vida. The couple has been married since 2012 and are parents to seven children.
Alec Baldwin also shared that he had viewed an early rough cut of the film but not the final version. He was hopeful about the release, emphasizing the importance of recouping investors' funds and fulfilling commitments to Matt Hutchins, Halyna Hutchins' husband.
Baldwin dismissed claims that he is profiting from the project as unfounded, underscoring his desire to see the film succeed financially and honor the agreements made during its production.
Alec Baldwin said he was happy that Rust was completed
As he spoke to Variety, the actor reflected on his deep involvement in the project, including contributing to the script and navigating challenges like securing locations and funding. He recounted the ups and downs over the years before production finally began.
Despite the challenges, Alec Baldwin described the joy and excitement the cast and crew felt upon starting filming, though they faced the typical time constraints of an independent film on a tight schedule. He added,
“But we were all happy to be there, we were happy to make the film. And I am happy that the film got completed. It’s been such a tragedy, which of course we would do anything to undo. But we arrived to the reshoot and it was a better film in a lot of of ways. Other than Halyna.”
Alec Baldwin pointed out how being 66 and wanting to focus his energy on his children has been a challenge amid the stress of the past two years. He noted the emotional toll of the situation and emphasized the importance of prioritizing his role as a father, ensuring he reserved his best efforts for his kids despite the draining circumstances.
Earlier in August 2024, Rust director Joel Souza opened up about his relationship with Alec Baldwin in a Variety interview, saying they were neither friends nor enemies, as there was no relationship between them. The actor’s manslaughter case was dismissed in July 2024 after Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer noted the insufficiency of any other sanctions.