'Rust' Shooting: Assistant Director David Halls Sentenced to 6 Months Unsupervised Probation

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Prosecutors are expected to drop charges against Alec Baldwin in the death of “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, sources confirmed on Thursday. In a statement, Baldwin’s lawyer said he was pleased with the outcome.

EXCLUSIVE: Less than two weeks before a mini-trial is scheduled to begin in New Mexico over the October 2021 killing of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, all charges are going to be dropped against Alec Baldwin, for now.

“Rust” will resume production Thursday in Montana, with work beginning 18 months after actor Alec Baldwin fired a live round which killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins while filming in New Mexico. Baldwin will return to the set just two weeks before the start of a court hearing in New Mexico to decide whether he will stand trial for a felony charge of involuntary manslaughter over the October 2021 incident.

Alec Baldwin will return to the "Rust" set on Thursday as the western resumes filming after the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, Fox News Digital can confirm. Principal photography will begin Thursday – roughly a year and a half after the production was halted due to Hutchins' tragic on-set death. "The production will continue to utilize union crew members and will bar any use of working weapons and any form of ammunition," Melina Spadone, attorney for Rust Movie Productions, told Fox News Digital in a statement.

Alec Baldwin won’t be showing up next month for the New Mexico mini-trial over the fatal shooting of  Halyna Hutchins, and he doesn’t believe he should be a defendant in the lawsuit the parents and sister of slain Rust cinematographer have filed in Los Angeles.

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Alec Baldwin filed a waiver of appearance for next month’s preliminary hearing in the fatal on-set shooting of Halyna Hutchins.  "I understand that I am charged with the following offense or offenses under the law of the State of New Mexico: Involuntary Manslaughter … in two alternatives," the filing obtained by Fox News Digital read. "I understand that I am entitled to personally appear before the Court at every stage of the criminal proceedings.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer David Halls, the first assistant director on “Rust,” pleaded no contest on Friday to a misdemeanor charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon, making him the first person to be held accountable for the shooting death of the film’s cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins. Halls, who was the film’s safety coordinator, appeared remotely for a plea hearing before a Santa Fe judge. Asked how he wished to plea, he answered, “No contest, your honor.” He will not serve jail time. Instead, he will serve six months of unsupervised probation. He is also expected to testify at a preliminary hearing in May, as prosecutors pursue involuntary manslaughter charges against actor Alec Baldwin and the film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed.

"Rust" assistant director Dave Halls was sentenced Friday after pleading no contest. Halls entered a plea of no contest to the misdemeanor charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer accepted the plea.The prosecution requested a suspended sentence, which is a conviction.

Jordan Moreau After directing the medieval fantasy film “The Green Knight” and the upcoming Disney remake “Peter Pan and Wendy,” filmmaker David Lowery is going to a galaxy far, far away. He is one of the directors on board for “Skeleton Crew,” the upcoming “Star Wars” series on Disney+ starring Jude Law, Variety has confirmed. Lowery joins “Skeleton Crew” alongside directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, the recent Oscar winners for “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” “Skeleton Crew” stars Jude Law and is created by Jon Watts, who directed all three of Tom Holland’s “Spider-Man” movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While “Skeleton Crew” story details are still under wraps, the Disney+ series will take place in the New Republic era, following the events of 1983’s “Return of the Jedi.” “The Mandalorian” team of Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni serve as executive producers.

A new addition has been made to the prosecutorial team in the “Rust” shooting case. On Wednesday, the office of New Mexico’s First Judicial District Attorney, Mary Carmack-Altwies — who was prosecuting Alec Baldwin — appointed long-time New Mexico attorneys Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis to serve as special prosecutors in the case.

Two days after a judge shut down the prosecution’s attempt to bring on a new special prosecutor in the Rust shooting, Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies has stepped aside and appointed a pair of special prosecutors — veteran New Mexico attorneys Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis — to take over the high-profile case.

 shooting case.

Two new special prosecutors were appointed to Alec Baldwin's fatal "Rust" movie shooting case Wednesday. New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies announced Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis will serve as "special prosecutors." "Morrissey's and Lewis' extensive experience and trial expertise will allow the state to pursue justice for Halyna Hutchins and ensure that in New Mexico everyone is held accountable under the law," Heather Brewer, spokesperson, First New Mexico Judicial District Attorney, said in a statement.

That’s four for four setbacks for the New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney in her prosecution of Alec Baldwin for the fatal shooting of Rust cinematorgrapher Halyna Hutchings in October 2021.

Looking at potentially months before a trial even starts in Alec Baldwin’s criminal case over the October 2021 shooting death of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, the actor is now accusing prosecutors of violating his “constitutional rights.”

recently stepped down as special prosecutor on the upcoming “Rust” criminal trial against Alec Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, wrote in emails sent to the Santa Fe district attorney last fall and acquired by The New York Times that she believed working on the case could help her electoral campaign. Reeb was selected by DA Mary Carmack-Altwies last June to handle criminal charges related to the accidental death of “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

The director of the latest superhero flop is getting candid.

William Earl After a less-than-super opening weekend, “Shazam: Fury of the Gods” director David F. Sandberg tweeted a thread on Mar.