First Trailer for Alec Baldwin's 'Rust' after On-set Death

Alec Baldwin. ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images
Alec Baldwin. ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images
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First Trailer for Alec Baldwin's 'Rust' after On-set Death

Alec Baldwin. ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images
Alec Baldwin. ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

The first trailer for Alec Baldwin's "Rust" -- the Western film made infamous by the fatal on-set shooting of its cinematographer -- was released Wednesday.

The dark movie trailer shows Baldwin's gunslinging character on the run with his grandson, who has been sentenced to hang for the accidental killing of a local rancher, AFP said.

"Some things in this life you can't get back," says Baldwin's character, in one scene.

In real life, Baldwin was pointing a gun toward cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal in New Mexico in 2021 when the weapon fired, killing her and wounding the film's director Joel Souza.

The Hollywood star was accused by prosecutors of violating gun safety rules, but his involuntary manslaughter trial collapsed last year over withheld evidence.

Both Baldwin and Souza returned to finish the movie, on another set in Montana.

It will now be released in limited US theaters on May 2 by tiny indie distributor Falling Forward Films.

Featuring a tombstone, a hanging and several shootouts, the trailer is accompanied by the sound of a foreboding thunderstorm, intense music, and ominous dialogue.

There are frequent shots of characters in silhouette or with their faces partly in shadow. Violence of all kinds -- gunfights, beatings, brawls in the mud -- is a clear motif.

The trailer concludes with a standoff between gunmen in a small dusty room, eerily reminiscent of the scene in which Hutchins was killed.

"Heaven ain't waiting on either one of us," says Baldwin, before the men draw guns on each other.

The film has already received its world premiere, at a Polish film festival in November.

Introducing the film, Souza said he had been "on the fence" about completing the movie, but was convinced to finish upon learning that Hutchins's husband wanted her final work to be seen.

Hutchins, a former journalist from Ukraine who grew up on a Soviet military base, was considered one of the industry's rising stars.

Baldwin did not attend the premiere, and it is unclear what role he will now play in promoting the film's release.



English Version of Animated Chinese Hit 'Ne Zha 2' Heading to Theaters

FILE PHOTO: Michelle Yeoh poses during the Oscars arrivals at the 97th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, US, March 2, 2025. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Michelle Yeoh poses during the Oscars arrivals at the 97th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, US, March 2, 2025. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo
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English Version of Animated Chinese Hit 'Ne Zha 2' Heading to Theaters

FILE PHOTO: Michelle Yeoh poses during the Oscars arrivals at the 97th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, US, March 2, 2025. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Michelle Yeoh poses during the Oscars arrivals at the 97th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, US, March 2, 2025. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo

A24 and CMC Pictures are teaming up to bring an English-language version of the globally successful Chinese animated film "Ne Zha 2" to theaters in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand on August 22, the companies said on Wednesday.

The animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" overtook Pixar's "Inside Out 2" in February to become the highest-grossing animated film globally, according to data from ticketing platform Maoyan.

"Ne Zha 2" amassed a total box office of 12.3 billion yuan ($1.71 billion) including pre-sales and overseas earnings, making it the eighth highest box office film worldwide, Reuters reported.

The English-language cast will include Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh. No other voice actors have been announced so far.

"I'm honored to be part of Ne Zha 2, a landmark in Chinese animation and a powerful reminder of how universal our stories can be," the Malaysian actor said in a statement.

The sequel film follows the first "Ne Zha" film from 2019 and is based on Chinese mythology.

The story follows Ne Zha, a rebellious young boy, who is feared by the gods and born to mortal parents with wild, uncontrolled powers.

He's faced with an ancient force intent on destroying humanity and must grow up to become the hero the world needs.

The film, which will be released in IMAX and 3D, was written and directed by filmmaker Yang Yu, who also developed the first movie. Over 99% of the mythological movie's box office income came from mainland China, starkly in contrast to Hollywood films, which typically rely on a more global distribution strategy.

"Ne Zha 2" is based on a 16th century Chinese novel "The Investiture of the Gods," depicting a hero boy with magic power who tried to defend Chentangguan, a fortress town.