Two days after announcing that he was finally done with the western film tragedy Rust, Alec Baldwin has his next job on the horizon.
The actor, 65, stars in Kent State, a film about the tragic May 1970 Kent State University campus shooting that killed four unarmed students and injured nine others.
Members of the Ohio National Guard opened fire at a peace rally opposing the U.S. armed forces’ increasing involvement in the Vietnam War in Cambodia and protesting the presence of the National Guard on campus.
Baldwin will play the role of then-president of the university, Robert White The Hollywood Reporter.
The upcoming movie that marks Karen Slade’s directorial debut is working from a script she also wrote.
New role: Alec Baldwin, 65, stars in Kent State, a film about the tragic May 1970 Kent State University campus shootings that killed four unarmed students and wounded nine others; Baldwin seen in March
Inspired by true events of the so-called May 4 massacre, the story is told through the perspective of Will McCormack in two time periods in his life, according to a deadline.
It asks both what happened then and why events like this continue to happen.
“The Kent State shooting was a dark and pivotal moment in our nation’s history. This is a story that needs to be told and, surprisingly, never has,” producer Tom Ortenberg told the publication.
“We look forward to bringing it to the big screen to educate and inspire young and old alike.”
The outlet also revealed that Dermot Mulroney, Clancy Brown, Aksel Hennie, Christopher Backus, Christopher Ammanuel, Andrew Ortenberg and Jacqueline Emerson had been cast.
Baldwin’s casting comes shortly after he wraps up shooting for Rust.
In the western, the old protagonist plays a notorious outlaw who comes out of hiding to prevent his 13-year-old grandson from being hanged for murder.
Filming began on October 6, 2021 in New Mexico, but was postponed indefinitely two weeks later after a prop gun belonging to Baldwin discharged, injuring director Joel Souza and killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Baldwin would eventually be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, in New Mexico.
Ultimately, in October 2022, Baldwin and other Rust producers settled a wrongful death lawsuit brought by Hutchins’ widower Matthew Hutchins.
The team also agreed to complete the film with Matthew Hutchins as executive producer, and Bianca Cline completing his late wife’s work as cinematographer.
Ultimately, those criminal charges against Baldwin were dropped on April 20, 2023, and he returned to the set to film his scenes in Montana the following day.
On Monday, May 15, the Oscar-nominated actor announced that he was wrapping up Rust in an Instagram post.
That’s a wrap: News that Baldwin is lining up his next job comes two days after finishing production on the tragedy-stricken western film Rust
Relief: A day later, Baldwin shared how it “felt good to shave off that beard” he grew out of for the movie
On-set tragedy: Baldwin had faced two criminal charges in connection with the accidental firing of a prop gun on the set of Rust in October 2021, which resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Those charges were eventually dropped in April 2023
Thank: Baldwin shared photos from the set of Rust, one he thanked for his young co-star Easton Malcolm, whom he previously called “the next Brad Pitt”
Last day on the set of RUST with this guy. A very talented actor and beautiful young man with a bright future ahead of him. My love to you, @patrickscottmcdermott,” he wrote.
Showing off a freshly shaved face later that day, Baldwin wrote in the caption, “God, it felt good to shave off that beard…”
During the final rounds of shooting, the New York native shared photos taken on set, including a couple with his young co-star Easton Malcolm, whom he dubbed “the next Brad Pitt” in an April 30 post.
“Saying goodbye to my co-star EASTON MALCOLM wasn’t easy,” Baldwin shared the next day. “Thanks, Brett, for sharing it with us. We love you, Easton.’