‘Rust’ Set to Release After Tragedy: Director Joel Souza Reflects on Pain, Regret, and Resilience

Three years after the fatal on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, Rust will finally see a theatrical release, with director Joel Souza opening up about grief, guilt, and finishing the film under extraordinary circumstances.

Los Angeles, May 1: After years of legal battles, controversy, and unimaginable grief, the Western film Rust will finally release this Friday. The film’s writer and director, Joel Souza, who was himself wounded in the tragic on-set shooting that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021, says the decision to complete the film was painful — yet necessary.

“Hutchins’ family wanted it completed,” Souza said in an interview with The Guardian. “I’d been repelled by the thought of going back, but then it started to appeal. And I couldn’t live with the idea of someone else doing it.”

Souza, however, doesn’t shy away from the raw truth of his emotional state. “Talk about the butterfly effect — I wish I never wrote the damn movie,” he admitted, reflecting on the irreversible chain of misjudgments that led to Hutchins’ death and his own injury.

The accident occurred when actor Alec Baldwin discharged a firearm that was mistakenly loaded with live ammunition. Baldwin’s charges of involuntary manslaughter were dropped in December 2023 due to evidence mishandling. However, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film’s armorer, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and is currently serving an 18-month prison sentence.

Souza and Baldwin, once collaborators, no longer have a personal relationship. “We’re not friends,” Souza said. “We’re not enemies. There’s no relationship.”

Asked about Baldwin’s recent reality series The Baldwins, which premiered to poor reviews, Souza replied with biting wit: “I think I was busy hitting myself in the face with a frying pan that night.”

Returning to direct the film was no small feat for Souza. The bullet that killed Hutchins also injured his shoulder. “I was a mess going in and a mess coming out,” he said. “The crew carried me through. My family carried me through. Emotionally, I was all over the map.”

As Rust prepares for release, early reviews describe it as a “no-frills Western” that is “competently made and absorbing” though lacking emotional depth. One area where it shines is cinematography, which began under Halyna Hutchins and was completed by Bianca Cline. The final product, according to The Hollywood Reporter, “harmoniously blends shadow, silhouette, and sweeping landscapes,” offering a visually compelling tribute to Hutchins’ legacy.

While Rust may never escape the cloud of its tragedy, its release marks the closing of one chapter — and perhaps, a difficult step toward healing for all involved.