The makers of Rust, an independent Western film starring Alec Baldwin as an infamous outlaw named Harland Rust, have released the first trailer for the film. The Joel Souza directorial is notable for a tragic on-set incident in 2021 where a prop firearm discharged by Baldwin contained a live round, contributing to the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
In the preview for the film, set in 1880s Kansas, Baldwin's character delivers the line, "Some things in this life you can't get back, I reckon," amidst scenes of gunfights. The plot centres on Lucas McCalister (Patrick Scott McDermott), a recently orphaned young boy who accidentally kills a rancher and is sentenced to be hanged.
However, Harland Rust orchestrates Lucas's escape from jail, and the two become fugitives heading towards Mexico. They are pursued by a determined US Marshal named Wood Helm (Josh Hopkins), and a relentless bounty hunter known as Preacher (Travis Fimmel).
Rust is largely known for the tragic event of October 21, 2021, in New Mexico, when Baldwin discharged a prop gun that unexpectedly contained a live bullet. This incident tragically killed the film's director of photography, Hutchins, and also injured the director, Souza.
The ensuing investigation into Hutchins's death and the subsequent high-profile legal proceedings involving Baldwin and the armourer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, dominated news coverage surrounding Rust.
Despite this history, the film is now scheduled for commercial release. Baldwin has consistently stated that he did not pull the trigger of the firearm when it discharged. The involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin were dropped back in 2023 summer.