Guy Ritchie isn’t taking a chance regarding prop guns on the set of his films. He is straight-up banned them!
Guy Ritchie’s Film Sets Are Gunless
The veteran director revealed he only used Airsoft pellet weapons when making his new film The Covenant. This is shocking, as the film stars Jake Gyllenhaal as a US sergeant who returns to Afghanistan to rescue an interpreter who helped him during the war.
War… guns… Do you see what we’re saying? Guy said that quite a few things have changed since actor Alec Baldwin was involved with Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’ death involving a prop gun. “That whole thing has changed now; the whole game has changed,” he told Newsweek magazine.
“We haven’t used a real weapon since (the Rust shooting). So there were no real weapons,” he admits. “It’s the first shoot that we had, which I have to tell you, it’s a tremendous relief for all of us.”
Guy Ritchie Uses Airsoft Weapons
The director bragged about how great Airsoft weapons are and just as good to be in films as a real gun used as a prop. ‘(Airsoft weapons) look as good as real weapons; they do all the functions of a real weapon. You get a gas discharge,” he said, explaining how they work.
“It all seems as authentic as it can be, but as Jake said, it’s Airsoft. No one can get it any trouble.” Ritchie shares that he has never approved of using guns and is thrilled to see the transition finally happening. “I had no idea why we carried on in the industry with real firearms,” he added.
Ritchie expressed confusion as to why they lingered for so long anyway. “It was just one of those things that everyone did, and it’s a tremendous relief, as I’m sure it is for Jake, as much as it is for me, that you don’t have that sword hanging over us any longer.”
Alec Baldwin Almost Went To Jail Over A Prop Gun
Baldwin was relieved of any cause he may have had to face if he was officially charged with Manslaughter. A gun he was operating on the set of the film Rust went off, accidentally murdering Hutchins.
Since the 2021 murder, investigators have been trying to determine who will be held guilty. “Rust safety coordinator and assistant director David Halls pleaded no contest to a conviction for unsafe firearm handling back in March.
Instead of jail time, he got a suspended sentence of six months of probation. As for Baldwin, he is jarred by the whole incident. He could have gone to jail for Manslaughter. Thankfully, that is no longer on the table for now.
New Mexico special prosecutors released a statement, “This decision does not absolve Mr. Baldwin of criminal culpability, and charges may be refiled.” The information continued, “Our follow-up investigation will remain active and ongoing.”
Baldwin and his lawyers are pleased, and seeing as Ritchie made an entire war film without a real prop gun, this will likely be the new norm.
