'Supernatural' Star Jensen Ackles To Resume Filming 'Rust'

Actor Jensen Ackles is probably best known for his role as Dean Winchester in the CW hit series "Supernatural" opposite Jared Padalecki.

Ackles has since moved on to other roles, most notably Soldier Boy in season 3 of “The Boys.” However, the Texas native also had a role in the Western film, "Rust," which is scheduled to resume production this spring.

Production on "Rust" was suspended in October 2021, after a gun held by actor Alec Baldwin went off and struck cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was killed. Director Joel Souza was hospitalized but survived.

In February 2022, Halyna's husband Matthew filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Baldwin and other "Rust" producers. A few months later, in October 2022, the lawsuit was settled. As part of the settlement, Matthew was named an executive producer on the project, which was supposed to resume filming in January 2023.

At this point, production has not yet resumed, although it's unclear as to why. It is possible that producers are still scouting locations as they move from New Mexico to California.

The same month that they were scheduled to begin filming, actor Alec Baldwin and “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed have been charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter for the death of Halyna Hutchins.

On Tuesday, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that production will resume this spring. Melina Spadone, a lawyer for Rust Movie Productions, said that Baldwin still has scenes to film on the project, although it's unclear how the criminal charges against him may impact filming. The scene inside the church where Halyna was shot has reportedly been rewritten.

Spadone also named Bianca Cline, who has worked on the critically acclaimed “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On,” as the film's new cinematographer. According to Rust Movie Productions, Cline will donate her salary to charity and has Matthew Hutchins’ “blessing and support.”

Spadone also noted that many of the old cast and crew members will return to their roles. These include Travis Fimmel, Frances Fisher, and Jensen Ackles. Although the "Dark Angel" star has not been vocal about the charges facing Alec Baldwin, he did comment on the gun safety training he received on the "Rust" set before the fatal incident.

In a video taken at a “Supernatural” convention in Denver in October 2021, the “Ten Inch Hero” star describes the gun safety training that he received on the set of the ill-fated Western film.

“I’ve got a 6 AM call tomorrow to have a big shoot-out,” he told the crowd. “They had me pick my gun… the armorer was like, ‘Do you have experience?’ and I was like, ‘a little.’” It is unclear if he is talking about “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who is facing two counts of involuntary manslaughter in Halyna’s death.

The 44-year-old actor used his hands to show how he was demonstrated: “‘This is how you load it, check it’s safe. Do you want it hip-drawn or cross-drawn? I’ll just put some blanks in there and just fire a couple of rounds towards the hill.’”

“I walk out and she’s like, ‘Just make sure you pull the hammer all the way back and aim at your target,’” Ackles recalled. “And I was like, ‘All right, I got it.’”

Although fans are probably eager to see Jensen Ackles return to the screen, it is unclear at this time if the new lawsuit filed by Halyna Hutchins’ parents and sister will derail production yet again.

Earlier this month, they filed a new wrongful death lawsuit against Alec Baldwin, “Rust” producers, and a variety of companies and individuals that they allege are responsible for Halyna’s death.

At a press conference the family’s attorney, Gloria Allred, claimed “There has been no outreach by Mr. Baldwin, no apology,” adding that they filed the lawsuit against anyone “who may have been responsible for the death of Halyna Hutchins. May she rest in peace.”

The family is suing for loss of consortium, negligence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, among other things, and seeking unspecified damages.