Why Alec Baldwin Didn’t Participate in ‘Rust’ Documentary

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A documentary about the fatal accident that took place on the set of Rust in New Mexico on October 21, 2021 involving Alec Baldwin is set to premiere soon, but the actor is allegedly not involved.

The project, which is titled Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna, was produced and directed by Rachel Mason. Mason, 47, who was friends with the victim, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, spoke with Vogue in an interview published on Tuesday, March 11. She told the outlet about the project, what it was like to get it made, and what she hopes audiences take away from it. She also mentioned that despite appearing in the documentary for an impactful clip, Baldwin, 66, had nothing to do with making it.

When the outlet asked if she had reached out to the actor for an interview, Mason admitted that she had and said, “I did reach out to Alec. It was not necessarily to say, ‘I want to do an interview,’ but it was a basic, just general communication.” She also noted that the reason Baldwin was unable to participate was because he was “working on his own projects.”

During the interview, Mason also revealed that there was a raw clip in the documentary of Baldwin’s reaction to the news that the live bullet that discharged from a prop gun he was holding had killed Hutchins, which she admitted was “debated back and forth.”

Baldwin was originally charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter in January 2023 by the Santa Fe district attorney, but the actor pleaded not guilty in February. The charges Baldwin faced were dismissed shortly after the trial started.

Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna was released on Tuesday, March 11, and is available for streaming on Hulu.