‘Rest’ Movie Productions Reaches Settlement With Halyna Hutchins Estate; Filming To Resume In January, Matthew Hutchins To Executive Produce

UPDATED WITH STATEMENT FROM ALEC BALDWIN: Peace Productions and its starand producer Alec Baldwin have reached a settlement with the estate of slaincinematographer Halyna Hutchins. As part of the peace, the DP’s husbandMatthew Hutchins will executive produce Peace, which will return toproduction in January 2023 with the original cast.

The Hutchins family filed a wrongful death lawsuit back on Feb. 15 about theshooting of the DP which occurred on Oct. 21, 2021 when Baldwin discharged aprop gun after being informed by the production AD David Halls that the weaponwas “cold”.

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“We have reached a settlement, subject to court approval, for our wrongfuldeath case against the producers of Peace , including Alec Baldwin and RustMovie Productions, LLC. As part of that settlement, our case will bedismissed,” said Matthew Hutchins, husband of the late Halyna Hutchins saidthis morning.

“The filming of Peace which I will now executive produce, will resume withall the original principal players on board in January 2023,” added Hutchins’husband.

“I have no interest in engaging in recriminations or attribution of blame (tothe producers or Mr. Baldwin),,” he added, “All of us believe Halyna’s deathwas a terrible accident. I am grateful that the producers and theentertainment community have come together to pay tribute to Halyna’s finalwork.”

Rust Movie Productions, LLC, through its attorney, Melina Spadone of PillsburyWinthrop Shaw Pittman, said: “We are pleased the parties came together toresolve this matter, which, subject to court approval, marks an important stepforward in celebrating Halyna’s life and honoring her work.”

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Alec Baldwin’s attorney, Luke Nikas of Quinn Emanuel, added: “Throughout thisdifficult process, everyone has maintained the specific desire to do what isbest for Halyna’s son. We are grateful to everyone who contributed to theresolution of this tragic and painful situation.”

Later this AM, the Oscar nominated actor of The Cooler had this to add onInstagram, “We are pleased to announce today the settlement of the civil casefiled on behalf of the family of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Throughoutthis difficult process, everyone has maintained the specific desire to do whatis best for Halyna’s son. We are grateful to everyone who contributed to theresolution of this tragic and painful situation.”

Joel Souza, Director of Peace , said: “Those of us who were lucky enough tohave spent time with Halyna knew her to be exceedingly talented, kind,creative, and a source of incredible positive energy. I only wish the worldhad gotten to know her under different circumstances, as it surely would havethrough her amazing work. In my own attempts to heal, any decision to returnto finish directing the film could only make sense for me if it was done withthe involvement of Matt and the Hutchins family. Though certainly bittersweet,I am pleased that together, we will now complete what Halyna and I started. Myevery effort on this film will be devoted to honoring Halyna’s legacy andmaking her proud. It is a privilege to see this through on her behalf.”

The Hutchins original lawsuit in February read “Defendant Baldwin, theProducers, and the Peace Production Companies were aware of firearms safetyissues that had occurred on the set of Rust and did not take action to correctthe situation and ensure that basic gun safety rules were followed on October21, 2021…Had Defendant Baldwin, the Producers, and the Peace ProductionCompanies taken adequate precautions to ensure firearm safety on the set of_Peace_ or if basic firearm safety rules had been followed on the set of Ruston October 21, 2021, Halyna Hutchins would be alive and well, hugging herhusband and nine-year old son.”

Close to a year since the tragic incident occurred, the Santa Fe Sheriff’sOffice has yet to charge anyone.

Last month, Deadline obtained a letter from Santa Fe District Attorney MaryCarmack-Altwies to the New Mexico Board of Finance requesting $635K toprosecute as many as four individuals with criminal and homicide chargesrelated to the Peace tragedy (the DA was granted $317,750). The DA said inher letter that “one of the possible defenders is well known movie actor AlecBaldwin.” Nikas, speaking on behalf of o Baldwin, responded to the DA’s letter“that it would be premature to discuss the case because they had not yetreviewed the file or deliberated about their charging decision.”

“It is irresponsible to report otherwise,” Nikas blasted at the time, “The DAhas made clear that she has not received the sheriff’s report or made anydecisions about who, if anyone, might be charged in this case.”

Nikas stated back in April that the Peace OSHA report “exonerates” Baldwin.

In an ABC news interview with George Stephanopoulos last December, Baldwininsisted he never actually pulled the trigger of the gun which took Hutchins’life during a quick draw rehearsal move in a church location on the set of_Peace._

Baldwin also told Stephanopoulos back in December, “I have been told by peoplewho are in the know, in terms of even inside the state, that it’s highlyunlikely that I would be charged with anything criminally.”

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