Alec Baldwin is set to resume filming Rust over a year on since the fatal on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
The 65-year-old actor, who was holding the weapon that killed Hutchins, 42, in October 2021, has since been charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter. He has pleaded not guilty.
A preliminary hearing will take place in the coming weeks that will determine whether there is enough evidence to take the case to trial.
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Baldwin was previously granted a motion to waive his appearance at the preliminary hearing, beginning on 3 May, which is set to last two weeks in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
And now, it has been announced that the movie will be going ahead and filming is set to begin soon - seeing the return of Baldwin and director Joel Souza, who was shot in the shoulder during the tragic accident.
Melina Spadone, attorney for Rust Movie Productions, said in a statement: “The production will continue to utilise union crew members and will bar any use of working weapons and any form of ammunition.
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“Live ammunition is — and always was — prohibited on set.”
Reports suggest that filming will continue on Thursday (20 April) at Yellowstone Film Ranch, in Montana.
It has also been reported that the new cinematographer, Bianca Cline, plans to donate her salary to charity in honour of Hutchins.
Shooting is scheduled to last between 20–25 days and a documentary crew will also follow the completion of the film.
In an interview addressing the accident with ABC's George Stephanopoulos, Baldwin was adamant he 'didn't pull the trigger', telling the host that the gun inexplicably went off after he picked it up.
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Baldwin said in 2021: "I think back, I think, 'What could I have done?' The trigger wasn't pulled, I didn't pull the trigger. I would never point a gun at anyone at point a trigger at them, never.
"Someone put a live bullet in the gun - a bullet that wasn't even supposed to be on the property."
Speaking about Ms Hutchins, he added: "She was someone who was loved by everyone who worked with and liked by everyone who worked with - and admired.
"Even now I find it hard to believe, it just doesn't seem real to me."
Speaking about the interview, Stephanopoulos felt that the actor was incredibly open with him, saying: "As you can imagine he was devastated, but he was also very candid, was very forthcoming.
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"He answered every question. He talked about Halyna Hutchins, talked about meeting her family as well. [He] went through in detail what happened on the set that day."
Following the shocking incident, Baldwin released a statement on Twitter, which read: "There are no words to convey my shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother and deeply admired colleague of ours.
"I'm fully cooperating with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred and I am in touch with her husband, offering my support to him and his family.
"My heart is broken for her husband, their son, and all who knew and loved Halyna."
Topics: Alec Baldwin, Crime, Film and TV, US News, Gun Crime