Mickey Rourke jumped into Alec Baldwin’s defense on Thursday, insisting there was “no way” he should be charged with the shooting of Rust cinematographer on set.
Rourke, 70, spoke out after Baldwin, 64, was told he would be charged with involuntary manslaughter in the October 2021 shooting of Halyna Hutchins.
Baldwin, who starred and produced Rust, was handed a prop gun and pointed it at Hutchins on the set in New Mexico.
The gun went off, killing the 42-year-old and wounding director Joel Souza.
On Thursday, the Santa Fe District Attorney announced that both Baldwin and gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez-Reed would face involuntary manslaughter charges — and face 18 months in prison if convicted. If found guilty of weapon improvement, the pair could face five years.
Mickey Rourke (left) insisted on Thursday his friend Alec Baldwin (right) should not be charged in the October 2021 shooting of camerawoman Halyna Hutchins
Halyna Hutchins, a 42-year-old married mother of a young son, died in New Mexico hospital after the accidental shooting
Rourke, who appeared on Baldwin’s podcast in 2016, said it was wrong to prosecute the Oscar-nominated actor.
“I don’t normally invest my two cents about what happens on someone’s movie set,” he wrote on Instagram.
“It is a terrible tragedy what happened to cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
“But by no means should actor Alec Baldwin be charged with any negligence.”
Baldwin insists that he is not responsible for the shooting and points out that he trusted the firearms specialists on set.
His attorney said he expected his release.
Rourke said it was wrong to expect Baldwin to manage the gun safety aspects of the set.
Rust’s set gun accidentally fired, killing Hutchins
She was shot shortly after the crew entered a church to rehearse a scene (above).
Alec Baldwin is seen October 21, 2021 after speaking to investigators about the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins. Baldwin’s phone is now being sought by the team investigating Hutchin’s death
A devastated Baldwin is pictured hunched outside the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office after speaking to investigators
“Most actors don’t know anything about guns, especially if they didn’t grow up with them,” he continued.
‘Alec did not bring the gun to the set from his house or his car, if guns are involved on a film set the guns should only be handled by the ‘gun armour’.
“In some cases the 1st AD hands a weapon to an actor, but more often than not the weapon is given to the actor directly from the ‘armour of arms’.
“That’s Armor’s job on set. To have an expert on every kind of dangerous weapon.’
Rourke said the actors could then either “dry fire the gun” or check the barrel themselves.
He said the decision to charge Baldwin was “terribly wrong.”
“I’m sure Alec is suffering enough from what happened. But blaming him is terribly wrong.”
Rust’s set at Bonanza Creek Ranch outside of Santa Fe
Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins (center) died after being shot by Baldwin during a rehearsal October 21, 2021 in New Mexico
An aerial view of Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe where the film was filmed
In a statement, Baldwin’s attorney said: “This decision distorts the tragic death of Halyna Hutchins and constitutes a horrific miscarriage of justice. Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun – or anywhere on the film set.
“He relied on the professionals he worked with to reassure him that the gun had no live cartridges. We will fight these allegations and we will win.”
SAG-AFTRA, the organization representing some 160,000 actors and other professional entertainers, also objected to the charges.
“The death of Halyna Hutchins is a tragedy, and all the more so because it was preventable. It is not a dereliction of duty or a criminal act by any performer,” the group said in a statement Thursday.
“The prosecutor’s assertion that an actor has a duty to ensure the functional and mechanical operation of a firearm on a production set is false and uninformed.
“It’s not an actor’s job to be a firearms or weapons expert. Firearms are provided for their use under the guidance of several experts who are directly responsible for the safe and accurate operation of that firearm.
“Furthermore, the employer is always responsible for ensuring a safe work environment at all times, including hiring and supervising the work of professionals trained in weapons.”