“I can't deny that was surreal” - Josh Hopkins opens up about going back to work after Halyna Hutchins’ death

Joel Souza’s Rust, starring Josh Hopkins, Alec Baldwin, Travis Fimmel, Jake Busey, and Frances Fisher, is set to hit the big screen on May 2, 2025—four years after the unfortunate accident on set that claimed the life of the movie’s cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins.

Josh Hopkins, widely known for his roles as Liam O’Connor in Quantico and Grayson Ellis in Cougar Town, plays the character of Wood Helms, a sheriff, in the Western drama film. Hopkins shared with People his experience of returning to the set and finishing the movie.

Rust, set in Kansas during the 1880s, revolves around an old outlaw who emerges from hiding after years to save his 13-year-old grandson, who is about to be hanged for a killing he committed by mistake. The pair must now escape and go on the run to avoid being caught by a cruel bounty hunter.

In 2021, during the production of Rust in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a tragic accident occurred in which the film’s cinematographer, Hutchins, was shot and killed. Director Souza was also injured in the incident.

The accident happened when the film’s producer, Alec Baldwin—who is also one of the lead actors—held a prop gun that contained live rounds, which discharged and fatally injured Hutchins. However, in 2023, two years after the incident, one of the film’s stars, Josh Hopkins, along with the rest of the crew, returned to set to complete the movie.

Josh Hopkins on returning to set after the tragedy

Hopkins recently opened up to People and shared what it was like for him and the rest of the crew to return and finish the film in honor of Hutchins. The Cougar Town actor told People that it was Halyna’s philosophy “that inspired everyone constantly.” Speaking about Hutchins, Hopkins said:

"She was an incredible, amazing, energetic artist. And her work — this is so beautiful."

The 54-year-old Hopkins, who plays one of the main characters in Souza’s Western drama, recalled what it was like returning to the set after the 2021 tragedy. He shared:

"I can't deny that was surreal. But there was a sense amongst everyone that now we had a specific mission, and that was to honor [Hutchins] every day, and come in ready to work, and prepared the way she was every day… To honor her was at the forefront of every decision we made."

Josh stated that things on set were “completely different” when they resumed filming the Western drama in Montana. The Ally McBeal actor added:

"There were no more working firearms at all on the set. And that was a given before anyone would return."

Josh Hopkins spoke to Halyna Hutchins' husband, Matt, over a Zoom call

Hopkins revealed that he spoke with Halyna’s husband, Matt, over a Zoom call. Matt asked him to return to set and finish the movie, as it was something Halyna would have wanted. Josh stated:

"And then I got on a Zoom with Matt, her husband, and he asked me to come back and finish, because Halyna would've wanted the world to see this, and she was so passionate about it. So to know that we had his blessing and that the family wanted the world to see what a fantastic artist she was, after that, I was honored."

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Rust releases in theaters on May 2, 2025.

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