Hollywood ‘Devastated’ by Fatal ‘Rust’ On-Set Tragedy, Questions Use of Prop Guns

“My greatest fear is that someone will be fatally hurt on one of my sets,” James Gunn tweets

The death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Alec Baldwin’s “Rust” has drawn reactions of devastation throughout Hollywood and prompted discussions about the use of prop guns on set.

Hutchins, a 43-year-old award-winning cinematographer, was killed Thursday when actor-producer Baldwin discharged a prop gun on the New Mexico set of the indie Western film.

“My greatest fear is that someone will be fatally hurt on one of my sets. I pray this will never happen,” “The Suicide Squad” filmmaker James Gunn tweeted. “My heart goes out to all of those affected by the tragedy today on Rust, especially Halyna Hutchins & her family.”

“I’m in shock. I was so lucky to have had Halyna Hutchins as my DP on Archenemy,” actor Joe Manganiello wrote. “An incredible talent & great person. I can’t believe this could happen in this day and age… gunfire from a prop gun could kill a crew member? What a horrible tragedy. My heart goes out to her family

According to law enforcement statements, Hutchins was shot around 1:50 p.m. local time Thursday and died of her injuries after she was airlifted to University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque. The film’s director, Joel Souza, was also injured and hospitalized in the incident, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Juan Rios said.

“The DGA is incredibly saddened to hear of the tragic passing of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, and the serious injuries sustained by DGA director Joel Souza in an on-set incident in New Mexico today,” Directors Guild of America president Lesli Linka Glatter said in a statement late Thursday. “We await further details and a full investigation. Our hearts go out to Halyna’s family, to Joel, and to everyone impacted.”

A representative for “Rust” production did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment on Souza’s current status Friday, but “Rust” actress Frances Fisher tweeted shortly after midnight on the West Coast, “our director Joel Souza is out of hospital.”

Director Paul Feig was among the many Hollywood heavyweights to pay tribute to Hutchins, tweeting Friday: “Just woke up in London to the devastating news of the accident that so tragically took the life of Halyna Hutchins. It is beyond comprehension. There are no words, really. This is a very dark day for our industry.”

“Superman & Lois” star Elizabeth Tulloch also tweeted about the on-set incident, noting the importance of keeping cast and crew safe on set: “A lot of sadness on the @cwsupermanlois set tonight. Film & television crews work so hard and their safety needs to be ensured. My heart breaks for Halyna Hutchins, her family, the Rust crew, and everyone affected by this horrific (and likely preventable) tragedy.”

See more reactions to Hutchins’ death on the set of “Rust” below, including one from the sister of Brandon Lee, the star of “The Crow” who was killed on set by a prop gun firing blanks.

https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1451390719470579764
https://twitter.com/Winter/status/1451386422338850818

https://twitter.com/travishelwig/status/1451397305655910402?s=20

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