'Rust' will continue production with Alec Baldwin in lead role following his involuntary manslaughter charges

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Alec Baldwin will return for the lead role in the "Rust" film production despite double involuntary manslaughter charges filed by the New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Thursday.

Melina Spadone, attorney for Rust Movie Productions, LLC, confirmed to Fox News Digital that the movie is "on track to be completed with Mr. Baldwin in the lead role and Joel Souza as director."

Halyna Hutchins was killed on the New Mexico set of the Western film, and Souza was wounded by a bullet when live ammunition was accidentally loaded into a weapon fired by Baldwin while rehearsing a scene in a church on Oct. 21, 2021. The actor has since denied he pulled the trigger of the gun that killed Hutchins.

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who served as the armorer on the film, was also charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter.

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Alec Baldwin will return to "Rust" production in lead role after criminal charges for cinematographer's death. (MEGA)

Spadone also confirmed that the project will include "on-set safety supervisors and union crew members, and will bar any use of working weapons or any ammunition."

Live ammunition was reportedly prohibited from the "Rust" movie set. The Motion Picture Association has actively campaigned for updated firearm safety requirements. 

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If Baldwin is convicted, he could face up to 18 months in prison.

Baldwin's attorney called the charges a "terrible miscarriage of justice" in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. 

Alec Baldwin shown on the "Rust" movie set in this crime scene photo. (Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office)

Aerial photo from Bonanza Creek Ranch shows the church where actor Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

"This decision distorts Halyna Hutchins’ tragic death and represents a terrible miscarriage of justice," Luke Nikas of Quinn Emanuel said. "Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun – or anywhere on the movie set. He relied on the professionals with whom he worked, who assured him the gun did not have live rounds. We will fight these charges, and we will win."

Hutchins' family thanked the sheriff's office and the DA after the charges were announced.

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"We want to thank the Santa Fe Sheriff and the District Attorney for concluding their thorough investigation and determining that charges for involuntary manslaughter are warranted for the killing of Halyna Hutchins with conscious disregard for human life," said a statement issued on behalf of the Hutchins family via attorney Brian J. Panish, founding partner of Panish Shea Boyle Ravipudi LLP.

Halyna Hutchins was a rising star in the cinematography world.  (Fred Hayes)

"Our independent investigation also supports charges are warranted. It is a comfort to the family that, in New Mexico, no one is above the law. We support the charges, will fully cooperate with this prosecution, and fervently hope the justice system works to protect the public and hold accountable those who break the law."

While "Rust" will resume production in 2023, crews will not return to New Mexico.

In October, Spadone confirmed to Fox News Digital that the production was "considering other locations, including in California, but no decisions have been made." 

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