Joe Manganiello and James Gunn lead tributes to Halyna Hutchins following 'Rust' tragedy

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Joe Manganiello and James Gunn were among the stars paying tribute to cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, after she was accidentally shot and killed on the set of Alec Baldwin’s new movie Rust.

Baldwin fired a prop gun on the set of the Western, with the shot killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza, on Thursday.

Following the tragedy, stars flocked to social media to remember 42-year-old Hutchins, who graduated in 2015 from the American Film Institute and was named a “rising star” by American Cinematographer magazine in 2019.

One of her biggest projects was the 2020 movie Archenemy, starring Manganiello, with the actor taking to Instagram with a heartfelt tribute.

“I woke up to the messages and read the news and I am in shock,” he began. “I was so lucky to have had @halynahutchins as my DP on Archenemy. She was an absolutely incredible talent and a great person. She had such an eye and a visual style, she was the kind of cinematographer that you wanted to see succeed because you wanted to she what she could pull off next… and she was a fantastic person. There was no amount of pressure she couldn’t handle. She was a great collaborator and an ally to anyone in front of her camera. Everyone who knew her was rooting for her.”

He added: “I can’t believe that this could happen in this day and age… gunfire from a prop gun could kill a crew member? This is a horrible tragedy. My heart goes out to her family and especially to her son. I am so sad today for everyone who knew her and worked with her…”

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Meanwhile, Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn admitted his “greatest fear” is that a similar tragedy would happen on one of his films, as he tweeted: “I pray this will never happen. My heart goes out to all of those affected by the tragedy today on Rust, especially Halyna Hutchins & her family.”

Actor Elijah Wood wrote on Twitter: “Absolutely horrifying and devastating news about cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins. My heart goes out to her family.”

And Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure star Alex Winter tweeted: “Deepest condolences to the family and friends of Halyna Hutchins. Crew should never be unsafe on set and when they are there is always a clearly definable reason why. #IASolidarity.”

Investigations into the shooting are currently underway, with Baldwin pictured distraught and sobbing while on the phone outside the Sheriff’s Office in Santa Fe, New Mexico, amid police interviews.