Alec Baldwin is hauled to the gallows in blood-stained shirt on the set of Rust as filming resumes in Montana after he was cleared over his killing of cinematographer
- Alec Baldwin was spotted filming a chilling scene for Rust on Friday in Montana
- Filming resumed after manslaughter charges against Baldwin were dropped
- Production of Rust was suspended for more than a year after on-set death
Alec Baldwin was spotted filming a chilling scene on Friday, which saw the actor hauled up to the gallows for hanging in his Western drama Rust.
Filming on Rust resumed earlier this month in Montana, after prosecutors in New Mexico dropped manslaughter charges against Baldwin in the fatal on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Rust, which tells the fictional tale of a boy wrongly accused of murder, moved filming to Big Sky Country after production was suspended for more than a year in the wake of the real-life death.
Photos taken on Friday show Baldwin in character as aging outlaw Harland Rust, wearing a blood-stained shirt and dragged to a gallows with a waiting noose.
The scenes filmed did not appear to simulate an actual hanging, and it’s unclear whether the Rust script calls for the execution of Baldwin’s character to be carried out as part of the story.
Alec Baldwin was spotted filming a chilling scene on Friday, which saw the actor hauled up to the gallows for hanging in his Western drama Rust
Photos taken on Friday show Baldwin in character as aging outlaw Harland Rust, wearing a blood-stained shirt
The Montana film set, where Rust is being staged. Baldwin’s character can be seen with his head in the noose on the gallows
The 30 Rock star will be in Montana until May 22 to continue the production of Rust. Filming ceased in October 2021 following the shooting.
Armorer Hannah Guterriez-Reed, who was charged alongside Baldwin, will play no further part in Rust and still faces manslaughter charges over her role in Hutchins’ death.
Production has moved to Montana and is taking place on the same set where the hit show Yellowstone is filmed.
The ranch boasts a purpose-built Western-style backlot and views of Paradise Valley and the Crazy and Abzaroka mountain ranges.
Earlier this month, prosecutors formally dismissed an involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin in the fatal 2021 shooting of Hutchins, citing new evidence and the need for more time to investigate.
In a stunning turnaround for the 65-year-old actor, special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis filed the notice to dismiss the only remaining criminal allegation against Baldwin in state District Court in Santa Fe.
Prosecutors say the investigation of the shooting that killed Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza is ongoing.
The 30 Rock star will be in Montana until May 22 to continue the production of Rust. Filming ceased in October 2021 following the shooting
Filming on Rust resumed earlier this month in Montana, after prosecutors in New Mexico dropped manslaughter charges against Baldwin in the fatal on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins
Baldwin is seen supported by two other actors, as his character Harlan Rust is hauled to the gallows
Filming of Rust continued on Friday in Montana
The film is being completed at Yellowstone Film Ranch, which was completed in June 2020
The camera and sound team can be seen behind as Baldwin’s character is dragged towards the hangmen
The site features a western-style backlot in Paradise Valley that is styled after a late-1800s gold rush town, as well as a production office for rent in downtown Livingston
Baldwin at one point was wrapped in a red blanket between takes
The court filing echoed early statements from prosecutors that new facts had been revealed that demand further investigation and forensic analysis.
After Baldwin’s attorneys announced the decision, the special prosecutors said the ‘decision does not absolve Mr. Baldwin of criminal culpability and charges may be refiled.’
They have declined further comment and only vaguely addressed the matter during a recent virtual status conference in Gutierrez-Reed’s case.
Los Angeles-based entertainment litigator and defense attorney Kate Mangels, who is not involved in the ‘Rust’ case, said opportunities for further charges against Baldwin are narrowing.
It emerged Baldwin could face fresh charges hours after the manslaughter case was dropped, on April 20.
The special prosecutors appointed to the case stressed that Baldwin had not been cleared.
Their statement came shortly after Baldwin’s lawyers said their client was ‘pleased’ and the actor posted a tribute to his wife on Instagram, thanking her for her support.
‘This decision does not absolve Mr Baldwin of criminal culpability and charges may be refiled,’ said Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis.
Halyna Hutchins was shot dead on the set of the movie Rust in October 2021
Hilaria Baldwin posted this bizarre image of her in Alec’s arms on her Instagram after the charges were dropped
Meanwhile Alec credited his wife with getting him through the ordeal following the shooting in 2021
Alec Baldwin arrived to Montana one day before filming resumes on his troubled western movie Rust, exclusive DailyMail.com photos show
Baldwin’s wife Hilaria is seen waving him off for filming, watched by a documentary crew. She wore loose jeans, a white top and flannel with sneakers, before changing into slippers and carrying her seven-month-old
Kari Morrissey (left) and Jason Lewis, special prosecutors in the Rust shooting case, issued a statement on Thursday evening saying they had ‘new facts’, which led them to dismiss the charges against Baldwin – but stressed he had not been cleared
Charges were dropped because new evidence showed that the gun could indeed have fired without the trigger being pulled, a source told The Wall Street Journal.
The prosecutors confirmed they had obtained ‘new facts’ about the circumstances around the shooting, which led them to dismiss the existing charges against Baldwin.
The armorer who provided the prop gun, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, is still being prosecuted as planned.
‘Over the last few days and in preparation for the May 3, 2023, preliminary hearing, new facts were revealed that demand further investigation and forensic analysis in the case against Alexander ‘Alec’ Rae Baldwin, III,’ said Morrissey and Lewis in their statement.
‘Consequently, we cannot proceed under the current time constraints and on the facts and evidence turned over by law enforcement in its existing form.
‘We therefore will be dismissing the involuntary manslaughter charges against Mr Baldwin to conduct further investigation.
‘This decision does not absolve Mr. Baldwin of criminal culpability and charges may be refiled.
‘Our follow-up investigation will remain active and on-going. Charges against Hannah Gutierrez-Reed remain unchanged.
‘No further statements will be made at this time.’
Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was charged alongside Baldwin in Hutchins’ death
Baldwin is seen standing next to Hutchins – a mother-of-one – on the set of Rust in October 2021
Baldwin speaks on the phone in the parking lot outside the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office shortly after the fatal shooting
Producer and actor Baldwin fired the prop gun (pictured) that killed one crew member and injured another on the set of the movie ‘Rust’ in New Mexico
Legal analysts said that the decision to dismiss the charges, but keep the door open to refiling them, was bizarre.
And their statement certainly takes the shine off Baldwin’s celebrations.
Shortly before, his lawyers, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, told DailyMail.com: ‘We are pleased with the decision to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin and we encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic accident.’
Baldwin thanked his 39-year-old wife Hilaria, mother to his seven children, on hearing the news of the charges being dismissed.
‘I owe everything I have to this woman,’ said Baldwin, posting a photo to Instagram.
Baldwin added: ‘(and to you, Luke)’ – a reference to his attorney, Luke Nikas.
It was announced earlier this year that Baldwin would remain in the lead role for Rust and that another cinematographer would replace Hutchins
Alec Baldwin has denied pulling the trigger, but prosecutors charged him with involuntary manslaughter for firing the weapon while it was pointed at Hutchins. The charges were dropped on April 20
Matthew Hutchins (left) is pictured above with Halyna and their now nine-year-old son
Baldwin’s legal team have been waging a fierce battle on his behalf.
They have insisted that the Oscar-nominated actor was not responsible for the accident because he was told the gun was ‘cold’ – not loaded.
There should never be live ammunition on set, and Baldwin said he trusted the film crew to carry out their professional responsibilities in sourcing prop guns and dummy ammunition.
His lawyers also challenged the impartiality of the Santa Fe prosecutor, Mary Carmack-Altwies.
She was removed from the case in February, after Baldwin’s lawyers successfully pointed out that she could not oversee the case while running for state Senate.
Carmack-Altwies said she was committed to prosecuting Baldwin, arguing that no one – no matter how famous or wealthy – was beyond the law.
She said she was stepping aside for the good of the case.
‘My responsibility to the people of the First Judicial District is greater than any one case, which is why I have chosen to appoint a special prosecutor in the ‘Rust’ case. Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis will unflinchingly pursue justice in the death of Halyna Hutchins on behalf of the people of First Judicial District,’ she said at the time.
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