Alec Baldwin has shared his deep-seated hope for an acquittal in a trailer for "The Trial of Alec Baldwin," an upcoming documentary detailing his experience with the legal proceedings following the fatal "Rust" shooting. The film is set to premiere in theaters on October 1.
In October 2021, while filming the Western movie "Rust" in New Mexico, Baldwin was holding a prop revolver that discharged, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Baldwin has consistently denied pulling the trigger, stating he was assured the firearm contained no live ammunition. He faced a charge of involuntary manslaughter, which was dismissed in 2024 by a New Mexico judge due to prosecutorial misconduct.
"I want to be acquitted so I can walk out the door and everybody just leave me alone," Baldwin is heard saying in the trailer. "I never dreamed of my life that this would come down to this."
The documentary, which followed Baldwin from 2023 onward, is directed by Rory Kennedy. Kennedy is a sister of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was serving as Donald Trump's Secretary of Health and Human Services at the time of the documentary's release. Kennedy has publicly denounced her brother's third-party presidential campaign in the 2024 election.
Reflecting on the shooting, Baldwin states in a confessional: "When they told me she died, I was in shock. I was in disbelief." He later adds, "If you said to me: 'Hike up Mt Everest and she'll come back,' I'd be packed and ready to do. Whatever I could do. But there's nothing you can do."
The trailer concludes with Baldwin acknowledging, "People who watch this will see so much of me at my worst." His wife, Hilaria Baldwin, also appears, noting the imminent arrival of paparazzi and advising her husband to take their children out of town.
A New Mexico judge dismissed the involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin in July 2024, citing errors in the prosecution's handling of evidence, specifically certain bullets. The judge determined these mistakes impacted the fundamental fairness of the case.
Halyna Hutchins' widower, Matthew Hutchins, had reached a wrongful death settlement that included a producer credit on "Rust." He expressed his respect for the court's decision regarding the dismissal of charges but stated a desire for future legal proceedings.
Rust's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was previously found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months, the maximum penalty, before her early release for good behavior. Baldwin subsequently filed a lawsuit in January 2025 against members of the Santa Fe District Attorney's office for alleged malicious prosecution, but the case was dismissed later that July due to his failure to file required documents.
The film "Rust" premiered at a festival in Poland in September 2024 and was released in the United States in May 2025, receiving mixed reviews.
Rory Kennedy commented on the case's complexity, stating, "There can be more than one victim. There can be a spectrum of victims in different situations, and it’s important to have space for that."