‘Reckless conduct and cost-cutting’: Baldwin named in husband’s lawsuit over film shooting

The husband of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Alec Baldwin and others on the set of the movie Rust.

Hutchins, 42, was shot dead in October last year while filming the western in New Mexico.

The lawsuit was expected, but a lawyer for the family has now confirmed that papers have been filed in the state’s Santa Fe county.

The couple’s nine-year-old son is also named as one of the parties in the case, said lawyer Brian Panish.

He said Baldwin “and others responsible for safety on the set” were the target of the lawsuit.

The “reckless conduct and cost-cutting measures” of the actor and producers “led to the death of Halyna Hutchins”, said Mr Panish.

Hutchins was killed and director Joel Souza injured when a gun being used by Baldwin during a rehearsal on 21 October fired a real bullet.

Baldwin, 63, has said he was told the gun was “cold” – meaning it was safe to handle, and that it he was pointing it at Hutchins at her request.

He said it went off without him pulling the trigger, but lawyers claim he turned down training for the kind of gun draw he was practising

An animated video that recreates the shooting was also revealed on Tuesday.

Today’s lawsuit is the first directly related to one of the people shot but others have already been filed.

The script supervisor and lead camera operator, who were near Hutchins when the incident happened, have each filed a lawsuit over the trauma they experienced.

The film’s armourer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, was named as a defendant in those cases and has been blamed by some for the shooting.

She has filed her own case against an ammo supplier, claiming it included live ammunition in a box supposed to include only dummy rounds.

Baldwin last month turned over his phone to investigators, who have described “some complacency” in how weapons were handled on set.

However, no criminal charges have so far been brought.