The Baldwins to star in TLC reality show before Alec’s ‘Rust’ trial
Alec and Hilaria Baldwin announced a new TLC reality show to air in 2025 after Baldwin’s scheduled trial in the fatal “Rust” film set shooting.
Alec Baldwin’s movie “Rust” hits theaters and video on demand May 2. Typically, a star such as Baldwin, who also served as producer of the Western, would be doing interviews to promote the film. But his representatives have indicated he will not be doing so.
The story of “Rust” – about an orphaned boy who journeys to Mexico with his grandfather (Baldwin) after being sentenced to hang for an accidental killing – has long been overshadowed by the death of the film’s cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, on Oct. 21, 2021.
Baldwin, whose prop gun fired the bullet, and others have faced criminal and civil lawsuits from state officials and Hutchins’ family alike as a result of the shooting during rehearsal in New Mexico. The movie set, like all others, should have only had blanks on hand, but somehow a number of live rounds made their way to the location and one such bullet ended up in the gun that went off as Hutchins and Baldwin lined up a shot in an old church.
While the film’s young armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, 24 at the time of the shooting, is serving 18 months for involuntary manslaughter, Baldwin’s case was vacated by the judge on legal technicalities. He has since sued New Mexico prosecutors, contending he was defamed and his civil rights violated.
‘Rust’ later resumed production in Montana partly at the behest of Hutchins’ family and widower, Matthew, who was made a producer on the movie.
Baldwin and his wife Hilaria and their seven children are currently the subjects of a TLC reality series, “The Baldwins.” While the actor isn’t commenting on the film these days, he has referenced the shooting on that reality show as well as various other times over the past years.
Here are some of Baldwin’s statements dating back to the 2021 “Rust” tragedy:
Shortly after the deadly shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the ‘Rust’ set, Alec Baldwin surfaced on X
After the incident, Baldwin issued this statement on X, formerly Twitter: “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.”
Alec Baldwin tells ABC’s George Stephanopoulos ‘the trigger wasn’t pulled’ when the gun discharged
That December, in his first public interview following the incident, Baldwin told ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos, “The trigger wasn’t pulled, I didn’t pull the trigger … I would never point a gun at anyone.”
Baldwin also said he had fitful dreams as a result of the incident. “I wake up constantly where guns are going off. … I haven’t slept for weeks. I’ve really been struggling physically. I’m exhausted from this. I might have killed myself if I thought I was responsible, and I don’t say that lightly.”
Alec Baldwin rails against coverage of the ‘Rust’ shooting and his role in it during a podcast with Chris Cuomo
In August 2022, Baldwin spoke with former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo on his podcast and complained about harsh press coverage. “It doesn’t matter what you do. The ones that are out to get you. And in this case, not even so much that kind of trash press, I mean anything Murdoch and anything (New York) Post.”
The actor said the people on hand that day “know what happened. … And the people that are talking loudest about what happened or speculating about what happened were not on the set of the film – theLA Times, The Hollywood Reporter,they talk on and on and on about ‘what if this?’ and ‘what if that.’ “
Alec Baldwin tells CNN he is losing Hollywood work as a result of ‘Rust’ lawsuits, backlash
Later that same month, Baldwin told CNN filming had compromised both his ability to work and his health. “I got fired from another job yesterday,” he said. “There I was all set to go to a movie, jump on a plane … I’ve been talking with these guys for months and they told me yesterday we don’t want to do the film with you because of this.” The overall stress, he said, has “taken years off my life.”
‘Rust’ resumes filming in Montana, but Alec Baldwin says he and his wife are just eager to put the movie in the past
In spring 2023, “Rust” resumed filming in Montana. In November 2024, the completed movie had its premiere at a Polish film festival. Baldwin did not attend. That December, Baldwin was asked by Variety about whether he had seen or intended to see the final cut.
“Right now, no,” he said. The “Rust” shoot “was the most difficult thing I’ve ever dealt with in my life.” He added that he wanted “all things ‘Rust’ to just leave my windshield.” He and Hilaria were just “trying to get the wind in our sails, to get away from this stuff,” he said.
Judge dismisses Alec Baldwin’s criminal case, actor thanks fans on Instagram
In July 2024, a New Mexico judge stunned prosecutors by dismissing the charges against Baldwin. The defense had argued the state had withheld evidence, including live ammunition that was critical to pleading Baldwin’s case, and the judge agreed.
After an emotional reaction in court where he appeared to sob in the arms of his wife, Baldwin took to Instagram to thank his friends and fans. “There are too many people who have supported me to thank just now,” Baldwin wrote. “To all of you, you will never know how much I appreciate your kindness toward my family.”
In the debut of ‘The Baldwins,’ Alec Baldwin says the aftermath of the ‘Rust’ shooting left him bereft and drifting
In the first episode of “The Baldwins,” which aired this past February, Baldwin was seen talking about “Rust” with his wife.
“I can’t even believe we’re going through this,” he said. “I always feel more in pain about you than me. I’ll try my best to get through it, but when I think of what it’s done to you and how much it hurt you and everything. … This past year has been just terrible. There was times I’d lay in bed and I’d go, ‘Wow, I can’t get up.’ That’s not like me. I’m not like that at all.”
