Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson vowed to stop using real guns on any of his future productions in the wake of the accidental shooting death of a cinematographer last month on the New Mexico set of the film “Rust.”
Johnson, who shoots most of his films and TV shows in metro Atlanta including the upcoming Netflix action thriller “Red Notice,” told Variety he will use rubber guns on his sets moving forward and make it look real in post production.
“We’re not going to worry about the dollars; we won’t worry about what it costs,” he told Variety at the premiere of “Red Notice” starring Johnson, Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot.
He co-operates Seven Bucks Productions, which shoots his NBC sitcom “Young Rock” and NBC reality show “Titan Games” as well as the recent Disney hit movie “Jungle Cruise.” He recently shot a film “Black Adam” that is set to come out next year. He largely works out of Atlanta Metro Studios in Union City.
Johnson expressed heartache over the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on Alec Baldwin’s film “Rust.” Baldwin, not realizing there was live ammo in his gun, fatally shot Hutchins during rehearsal. The case is still under investigation even as lawyers for armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed are posing the possibility of sabotage.
Given Johnson’s A-list status and power in the industry, Variety notes that “Johnson’s endorsement to end the use of real firearms can kick-off a domino effect of safe decision-making across Hollywood productions.”
“The Rookie,” an ABC police procedural, has also stopped use of real gunfire on its set. Instead, the show will utilize Air Soft guns and add computer generated muzzle flashes in post production.
Dozens of cinematographers have since signed a petition requesting productions stop use of any “functional firearms.”
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