Filmmakers behind a new documentary about Alec Baldwin and the aftermath of the 'Rust' shooting say the actor is not happy with the final product. Director Rory Kennedy and writer Mark Bailey discussed the film, 'The Trial of Alec Baldwin,' during a panel at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival last month.
Kennedy told the audience, according to The Hollywood Reporter, that Baldwin 'really, really, really didn't like it.' The actor did participate in the project, and at the film's start he says, 'The worst thing for me is to be misunderstood.'
The director explained that Baldwin's own account of events was not always consistent, which became a central theme. 'I think part of our experience was that Alec wasn't always the most reliable narrator of himself,' Kennedy said. 'So, part of what we're trying to do, because we have these questions as filmmakers — when is he acting, what is real, what is not — we want to bring the audience into those questions as well so that it's not like we're presenting this as here's all the facts.'
The documentary examines Baldwin's public persona, including his frequent headlines and his feud with former President Donald Trump, which the filmmakers suggest played a role in his prosecution. Kennedy noted that viewers may have strong opinions about Baldwin going in, but she hopes the film will lead many to conclude that the legal process was unfair.
'Our feeling at the end of the day is you can feel what you might about Alec — and people have, often, strong feelings one way or the other — and you may still have those feelings at the end of the film that you had going into it, but I think most people, in watching the film, will feel like there was an injustice,' she said.
The documentary revisits the October 2021 incident on the set of 'Rust' in New Mexico, where Baldwin was rehearsing with a firearm that was supposed to contain dummy rounds. The gun discharged, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin, who was also a producer on the film, has maintained he did not pull the trigger and that the gun fired accidentally.
Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter, but a judge dismissed the case with prejudice in 2024. In April, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge allowed a civil lawsuit against Baldwin to proceed. The legal wrangling continues to draw attention to the case, which has also fueled broader debates about on-set safety and accountability.
The documentary's release comes amid ongoing political and legal scrutiny of Baldwin, who has remained a polarizing figure. For those following the case, the film offers a behind-the-scenes look at the actor's own perspective and the questions that remain. As the civil case moves forward, the documentary could shape public perception of Baldwin's role in the tragedy.
For more political and legal news, check out our coverage of the GOP's midterm messaging and the court fight over the Trump archive.
