A New Rust Documentary Will Reveal the 'Untold' Story Behind Halyna Hutchins' Death.

      Hulu’s Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna will explore the heartbreaking circumstances surrounding the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Alec Baldwin's Western film Rust, from the perspective of her friend and filmmaker Rachel Mason.

      The documentary is scheduled to debut on Tuesday, March 11, and aims to “go beyond the public narrative to reveal the untold human story of that terrible day and everything that transpired afterward — from the viewpoint of those most affected by the tragedy,” as stated in a release about the film.

      “Halyna meant a lot to me for many reasons,” Mason, known for her previous works such as Circus of Books and An Update on Our Family, remarked in a statement.

      “She was not only a friend but also a collaborator. While she was alive, I never envisioned making a film about her. I had hoped to create films with her and support her in all her future projects. In the media storm that followed her death, it felt like Halyna was forgotten, her loss overshadowed by the surrounding controversies.

      “Our film intends to keep her in the spotlight, while also portraying the experiences of those who shared her last 12 days, with the hope that their insights provide a still-incomplete picture of Halyna.”

      The documentary is a collaboration among Story Syndicate, Anonymous Content, and Concordia Studio.

      Hutchins tragically lost her life in October 2021 when Baldwin’s prop gun unexpectedly discharged a live bullet on the Santa Fe, New Mexico set of Rust. This incident led to prolonged lawsuits and criminal proceedings. As noted in the release, “the tabloid drama surrounding the case overshadowed a deeply personal tragedy.”

      Last Take utilizes public court records, behind-the-scenes footage from Rust, and Hutchins’ personal archives to investigate the inquiries into the accident and explore “the private moral reckoning of all involved,” as mentioned in the release.

      Background on the Rust Documentary

      Baldwin has denied pulling the trigger and was rehearsing a scene when a live round fired from the prop gun, which should have contained only dummy rounds. Rust director Joel Souza was injured but eventually recovered.

      In April last year, Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed received the maximum sentence of 18 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter in relation to Hutchins’ death. Prosecutors held her responsible for inadvertently bringing live ammunition to the set and not adhering to basic gun safety protocols.

      In July, Judge Marlowe Sommer concluded the criminal trial against Baldwin, determining that prosecutors had suppressed evidence from the defense. She dismissed the case with no option for retrial.

      “The court cannot rectify this wrong,” the judge stated at the time.

      Last month, Baldwin filed a lawsuit against the prosecutors involved in the case, accusing them of malicious prosecution and civil rights violations. He claimed they sought criminal charges against him to “scapegoat Baldwin for the actions and omissions of others.”

      In response to Baldwin’s lawsuit, special prosecutor Kari Morrissey, one of the defendants, stated, “In October 2023, the prosecution team became aware that Mr. Baldwin intended to file a retaliatory civil lawsuit. We look forward to our day in court.”

      Main image: Halyna Hutchins in Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna. Courtesy of Felipe Orozco.