A year and a half after Alec Baldwin accidentally shot and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, the entire cast and crew have returned to set this week to resume filming.

You might think once a member of the crew is tragically murdered by the lead actor in a freak accident that results in worldwide news stories, you might wrap things up and call it a day. As sick at it sounds, we all know why they’re not = money. It’s awful but it’s true. The people behind Rust are using the publicity around Hutchins’s death, despite how horrific it all is, to make $$$ on this film.

In fact, finishing the movie is part of the agreement they made with the victim’s family. Her husband was made executive producer, a family friend is taking over her role as cinematographer, and a documentary on Halyna Hutchins’s life is in the works too, on top of any other settlements that are being hidden and lawsuits still in play.

Via TMZ:

As we told you, Matthew Hutchins, Halyna’s widower, reached an undisclosed settlement in the wrongful death lawsuit filed against the actor and production companies back in October … greenlighting filming for the movie to resume with the original principal players and Matthew as the Executive Producer.

Of course, Alec is still dealing with a ton of suits including one by his crew members. You’ll recall, AB and “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed were charged with involuntary manslaughter and he pled not guilty in February … days after the Santa Fe County D.A. dropped the gun enhancement charge against him.

So yeah, it may seem a bit fxcked up to continue shooting a movie where the main star has an involuntary manslaughter charge against him due to shooting the cinematographer dead, but that’s Hollywood I guess. Time is money, baby! Thoughts and prayers to Halyna Hutchins’s family. I’m sure there’ll be an ‘In Memory Of…’ graphic before the end credits role.

For chilling footage of Alec Baldwin taken in the aftermath of the Rust shooting, click HERE.