Alec Baldwin’s Rust to ‘benefit’ from shooting tragedy, claims expert

Alec Baldwin’s upcoming movie Rust will still see success at the box office despite calls to “boycott” the actor following the death of Halyna Hutchins, claims a Hollywood publicist.

Cinematographer Hutchins died on set in October 2021 after Baldwin discharged a prop gun, also injuring the film’s director Joel Souza.

News broke on Thursday that manslaughter charges against the actor, 65, were to be dropped after the “case was dismissed”, according to lawyers.

Now a leading movie publicist tells Express.co.uk that, despite calls to cancel Baldwin, his movie will likely “benefit” from the tragic ordeal.

GME film PR founder Ginger Liu claims Hutchins’ death will “definitely spark more interest” in the flick, set to resume filming this spring.

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Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Ginger explained: “It will get media publicity when the film is released, more than the film would ever have gotten if the accident didn’t happen.

“Hollywood is a town where people (hold on) no matter what’s thrown at them.

“There could be another legal case against him in the future, but he should (get through) it.”

They claim producers and the press in Hollywood “haven’t thrown Baldwin under the bus” despite a spate of articles reporting on the case.

Shedding more light on the ordeal, film PR expert Jason Mudd also told Express.co.uk that the shooting will create “buzz” around Rust.

The Axia Public Relations CEO said: “It will likely benefit from the shooting and the movie should enjoy additional success.

“I don’t believe in the cliché ‘there’s no such thing as bad publicity’.

“However, in this case, concerning cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’ tragic death, the buzz and scandal surrounding this movie will likely drive more moviegoers to the theatres and later to watch it from home.”

Mudd explained: “That’s because American consumers are highly forgiving of celebrities.

“Of course, some people will boycott Alec Baldwin as an actor and the Rust movie.

“This issue is even more polarizing than normal because gun violence and school shootings are actively in the news.

“But the movie received significant exposure from the on-scene accident and overall awareness and interest in it are higher than it would have been without the controversial incident.”