The actor Alec Baldwin pleaded not guilty on Thursday to involuntary manslaughter for the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the film “Rust” in New Mexico.

Mr. Baldwin has long denied any responsibility for the tragedy in October 2021, in which a gun he was rehearsing with discharged, killing the cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins. Lawyers for Mr. Baldwin have asked for the special prosecutor in the case to be disqualified and successfully argued that one of the charges against him should be downgraded.

The first hearing in the case is set for Friday, but Mr. Baldwin has asked for the court to waive his first appearance. He entered his plea in a court filing.