Highland Film Group is announcing cast for Crown Vic helmer Joel Souza’s new Western, Rust, following the attachment of Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe Award winner Alec Baldwin (Mission: Impossible franchise, NBC’s “30 Rock”) last year. Principal photography will commence come early October in New Mexico with Baldwin joined by Travis Fimmel (Ridley Scott’s “Raised by Wolves,” Universal Pictures’ Warcraft, Amazon’s “Vikings”), Brady Noon (Universal Pictures’ Good Boys, Disney +’s “The Mighty Ducks: Game Changer”) and Frances Fisher (Titanic, Warner Bros.’ Unforgiven).
Rust is an action/western which tells of infamous Western outlaw Harland Rust (Baldwin), who’s had a bounty on his head for as long as he can remember. When his estranged 13-year-old grandson Lucas is convicted of an accidental murder and is sentenced to hang, Rust travels to Kansas to break him out of prison. Together, the two fugitives must outrun legendary U.S. Marshal, Wood Helm, and bounty-hunter, Fenton “Preacher” Lang, who are hot on their tail. Deeply buried secrets rise from the ashes and an unexpected familial bond begins to form as the mismatched duo tries to survive the merciless American Frontier.
The film is penned by Souza who also storied the pic Baldwin, who is also producing the film via his El Dorado banner. Also producing are Matt DelPiano of Cavalry Media, Ryan Donnell Smith of Thomasville Pictures, Anjul Nigam of Brittany House Pictures and Ryan Winterstern and Nathan Klingher of Short Porch Pictures. Allen Cheney, Emily Hunter Salveson as well as Christopher M.B. Sharp and Jennifer E. Lamb are exec producers, with Hunter Salveson and Donnell Smith’s Streamline Global on board for financing.
“Rust is a wild ride of a story led by the incredibly talented Alec Baldwin. This unique and brilliant set of actors bring Joel’s action-packed western to life and we are so excited to bring this film to the marketplace,” said Highland Film Group CEO Arianne Fraser. “With Joel at the helm along with Alec’s vision, we cannot wait to see the cameras roll this fall and see this fantastic story come to life!” continued Highland Film Group COO Delphine Perrier.
Baldwin is represented by ICM and Cavalry Media. Baldwin’s El Dorado is repped by Marc H. Simon at Fox Rothschild. Souza is repped by Cavalry Media, The Gersh Agency and Miloknay Weiner. Nigam is repped by Stephen Foreht and DiSante Frank & Co. Noon is repped by Gersh and Marilyn Zitner Management. Fisher is repped by Greene Talent and attorney Jeff Bernstein.