Alec Baldwin to Skip ‘Rust’ World Premiere as Film Finally Set for Release
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Rust, the long-awaited film at the center of a tragic on-set incident, is set to hit cinema screens, but its star and lead producer, Alec Baldwin, will reportedly not attend the world premiere. According to The Hollywood Reporter, a source close to the situation confirmed that Baldwin will skip the event, which is scheduled for late November at the Camerimage International Film Festival in Poland.
The festival will not only screen the film but will also host a special panel discussion to honor the memory of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who tragically lost her life in an accidental shooting during production in October 2021. Hutchins was fatally shot when a prop gun handled by Baldwin discharged, with the same bullet also injuring Rust writer-director Joel Souza.
Souza, who will be attending the panel, is expected to speak about the project alongside Stephen Lighthill, Hutchins’ mentor from her time at the American Film Institute, and Bianca Cline, the cinematographer who took over after Hutchins’ passing. The panel will focus on Hutchins’ legacy and the profound impact her tragic death has had on the film industry.
Though Rust was described by Baldwin as a “passion project,” it remains unclear if other leading cast members, such as Frances Fisher, Josh Hopkins, Patrick Scott McDermott, and Travis Fimmel, will attend the premiere.
Baldwin’s absence from the premiere marks another chapter in the ongoing saga surrounding Rust, as the film finally prepares for its release following the resolution of legal matters, including a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Hutchins’ family.
The film’s world premiere is expected to be a solemn yet significant moment for all involved, as the industry continues to reflect on the tragedy that struck during its production.
