In a recent development, a New Mexico judge, Mary Marlowe Sommer, has dismissed the involuntary manslaughter case against actor Alec Baldwin in the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The decision has marked the end of Baldwin's legal uncertainty with New Mexico prosecutors, but the Rust saga continues to unfold, leaving several players engaged in ongoing legal battles.

Judge Sommer's decision to dismiss the case against Baldwin with prejudice means that prosecutors cannot re-file charges against the actor, who had faced the possibility of up to 18 months in prison. However, Baldwin is still facing civil lawsuits, including an ongoing suit filed by Hutchins' husband, Matthew Hutchins, and legal action from Hutchins' family in Ukraine and some members of the Rust crew.

Baldwin's attorneys have claimed that the actor has suffered job opportunities since the shooting. Nonetheless, Baldwin continues to maintain a public profile, as he participates in a documentary directed by Rory Kennedy and a TLC series, scheduled to air in 2025, which explores his life with his wife, Hilaria, and their seven children.

Another significant figure involved in the Rust tragedy is the movie's armorer, whose conviction on involuntary manslaughter charges is currently being appealed. This individual is now serving an 18-month prison sentence at the Western New Mexico Correctional Facility.

Following the revelation that Rust prosecutor Kari Morrissey withheld evidence from Baldwin's legal team, the attorneys representing the armorer, who is currently imprisoned, plan to capitalize on this aspect. It is expected that they will attempt to either dismiss the charges and sentence entirely, similar to Baldwin's case, or secure their client's release on appeal.

Matthew Hutchins, the husband of Halyna Hutchins and father of their 11-year-old son, Andros, is preparing to reopen his wrongful death lawsuit. Hutchins claims that Baldwin and the other Rust producers have not been fulfilling the financial obligations agreed upon in an October 2022 settlement. He has enlisted the help of documentary filmmakers Rachel Mason and Julee Metz to create a film about his late wife.

Joel Souza, the writer and director of Rust, was injured by the same bullet that claimed Hutchins' life. The bullet lodged in his shoulder. Souza has since reconvened the cast and crew of Rust to resume production in Montana in 2023. Post-production on the film was completed in March 2024, and Souza awaits distribution opportunities.

Hannah G. Halls, Rust's first assistant director who handed the lethal Colt. 45 revolver to Baldwin, received a sentence of six months unsupervised probation after pleading no contest to negligent use of a deadly weapon. Halls has since retired from the film industry.

In their motion to dismiss Baldwin's case, his attorneys revealed that the Santa Fe Sheriff's Office and prosecutors had withheld evidence regarding the live round that caused Hutchins' death. The live ammunition came from Albuquerque-based PDQ Arm and Prop, the prop firearms supplier for Rust, but the owner, Kenney, has denied involvement and has not faced any charges. PDQ has been named in multiple civil suits brought against the Rust production, including those from Matthew Hutchins, Halyna Hutchins' family in Ukraine, and crew members.

Apart from Alec Baldwin, Rust has six other producers, who are Ryan Winterstern, Ryan Donnell Smith, Nathan Klingher, Anjul Nigam, Matt DelPiano, and Grant Hill. Hill joined the project after the shooting and subsequent production resumption. The other producers were fined $100,000 by New Mexico's Occupational Health and Safety Bureau, and they are defendants in a civil lawsuit filed by Halyna Hutchins' family. Currently, they are seeking a distribution deal for the film.

Kari Morrissey, the lead prosecutor in both the Baldwin and the armorer's cases, faced allegations of withholding evidence in Baldwin's trial. Her behavior was strongly criticized by Judge Sommer, who dismissed the case against Baldwin, citing potential bad faith and prejudice. Morrissey expressed her disagreement with the judge's decision but acknowledged her respect for it. It is possible that some parties involved in Rust may file complaints against Morrissey with the State Bar of New Mexico.

As the dust settles on Baldwin's dismissed case, the Rust saga continues to unfold with ongoing lawsuits, appeals, and legal battles. The affected parties are determined to seek justice, holding accountable those they believe to be responsible for the tragic incident on the set of Rust.