Production on the Rust movie is set to resume on Thursday in the US state of Montana, 18 months after the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the New Mexico set.
Actor Alec Baldwin is back on set two weeks before the start of a court hearing in New Mexico to decide whether he should stand trial for a felony charge of involuntary manslaughter over Hutchins’ death in October, 2021.
Filming will resume at Montana’s Yellowstone Film Ranch set, according to Melina Spadone, a lawyer for Rust Movie Productions.
The legal representative also stressed that all use of working weapons or ammunition is, “and always has been”, prohibited on set.
In a statement, Spadone said: “The production will continue to utilise union crew members and will bar any use of working weapons and any form of ammunition.
“Live ammunition is – and always was – prohibited on set.”
Filming of the western was stopped following the fatal shooting of Hutchins on the New Mexico set in October 2021.
The movie’s star Baldwin, who had been holding the weapon that killed Ms Hutchins, has been charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, a charge he has pleaded not guilty to.
News that production is resuming comes two weeks before a preliminary hearing in the matter, during which it will be decided whether there is enough evidence to take the case to trial.
Baldwin was previously granted a motion to waive his appearance at the preliminary hearing, beginning on May 3, which is set to last two weeks in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
“I understand that I am charged with the following offence or offences under the law of the State of New Mexico: Involuntary Manslaughter … in two alternatives,” the filing read.
“I understand that I am entitled to personally appear before the court at every stage of the criminal proceedings.
“After reading and understanding the above, I request that the court permit me to waive a personal appearance in court for the following proceedings: preliminary hearing.”
In October, Baldwin settled a lawsuit with the cinematographer’s husband, Matt Hutchins, under which filming would restart with the same actors and director, Joel Souza, who was wounded in the 2021 shooting.
Under the settlement, Hutchins became an executive producer on the movie.
