Less than two weeks before a preliminary examination, or “mini-trial,” is scheduled to begin in New Mexico, all charges against Alec Baldwin for the October 2021 killing of “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins are expected to be dropped, for now, as Deadline reports.

Special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis, recently appointed to the case, are anticipated to file paperwork dismissing the involuntary manslaughter charges against the Emmy-winning actor without prejudice, leaving open the possibility of resurrecting the case in the future as further investigation is conducted.

In response to the expected dismissal, Baldwin’s attorneys Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro expressed their satisfaction and urged a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the tragic accident.

Meanwhile, the Santa Fe District Attorney’s office has declined to comment on the situation.

As of now, co-defendant and former “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed still faces charges, keeping the probe open and retaining subpoena power for prosecutors going forward.

Both Gutierrez-Reed and Baldwin previously pleaded not guilty.

Baldwin has insisted he did not pull the trigger on the prop gun that killed Hutchins, a claim the FBI contradicted in its report on the matter last year.

With Baldwin’s lawyers contesting the state of the gun, further investigation into the firearm is expected as part of any renewed probe.

These latest developments come as production on a resurrected “Rust” was set to begin in Montana with Baldwin and director Joel Souza, who was also wounded in the October 2021 shooting.

Although the timing of the charges being dropped against Baldwin appears uncanny, sources say it is purely coincidental.

The move by special prosecutors occurs just days after the witness list for the May 3 preliminary examination became public.

Even with charges against Gutierrez-Reed still active, it seems unlikely the examination will proceed as scheduled, especially with prosecutors diving deeper into the evidence, context, and circumstances of the on-set tragedy.

Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed were charged in late January 2023 with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, carrying a maximum of 18 months in prison and approximately $5,000 in fines if found guilty.

In the weeks leading up to this development, Baldwin had received approval to be absent from the preliminary examination.

The sudden turn of events for Baldwin follows Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies stepping down from the case in late March and the appointment of Morrissey and Lewis as special prosecutors.

This decision was made after a series of setbacks for the District Attorney’s office, including a failed attempt to block Gutierrez-Reed’s request for a gun for self-defense, the dismissal of a firearm enhancement charge, and the loss of a previous special prosecutor.

As New Mexico pondered charges against Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed, the Hutchins estate settled a wrongful death suit against Rust Movie Productions LLC and Baldwin in October 2022.

As part of the settlement, Halyna’s husband Matthew Hutchins is executive producing the new “Rust” production and a documentary on his wife’s life and career.

In a statement, Matthew Hutchins emphasized his belief that Halyna’s death was a terrible accident and expressed gratitude for the producers and entertainment community’s tribute to her final work.

With the temporary dismissal of charges against Baldwin, attention now turns to the special prosecutors’ investigation into the on-set tragedy and whether the case will be revived in the future.

Reaction was swift: