Director Joel Souza Regrets Writing 'Rust' After Hutchins' Fatal Shooting

Following the tragic accidental shooting that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza on the set of 'Rust,' the film was ultimately completed at the request of Hutchins' family, who wanted her work to be seen. Director Joel Souza expressed deep regret about having written the film, describing the emotional toll and his personal aversion to guns, but felt compelled to finish the project so that someone else did not do it in his place. Alec Baldwin, who fired the prop gun, was cleared of involuntary manslaughter charges after a judge ruled prosecutors withheld key evidence, while armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison. The film resumed production with significant changes, including the elimination of working firearms on set and the removal of the scene depicting the fatal shooting. Throughout the completion of 'Rust,' the cast and crew focused on honoring Hutchins, with her philosophy of striving to 'make this better' guiding their efforts. The film's release is seen by those involved as a tribute to Hutchins' talent and vision, with a portion of earnings going to her family and her widower serving as executive producer for the remainder of the project.