Weinstein Claims Credit for Yellowstone's Success

The disgraced producer says he brought creator Taylor Sheridan to the hit show, despite being removed from the credits.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 12:45am

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In a new interview from prison, Harvey Weinstein claimed he was responsible for bringing Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan to the hit Paramount Network show, and that he advised Sheridan to cast Kevin Costner instead of Robert Redford. Weinstein was originally listed as an executive producer on Yellowstone before being removed from the credits following the #MeToo allegations against him in 2017.

Why it matters

Weinstein's comments are a bizarre attempt to insert himself into the success of one of the biggest television shows of the last decade, even from behind bars. His claims raise questions about his actual involvement in Yellowstone's development and whether he is seeking to rehabilitate his public image despite the serious allegations against him.

The details

In the interview, Weinstein recounts various details of his life in prison, including almost freezing to death in his cell and being punched by another inmate. He also discusses the estrangement from his own children. Amid these personal stories, Weinstein bizarrely claims credit for Yellowstone's success, saying he "brought Taylor Sheridan to Yellowstone" and advised Sheridan to cast Kevin Costner over Robert Redford.

  • Yellowstone was greenlit by the Paramount Network in May 2017, with Weinstein listed as an executive producer.
  • In October 2017, Weinstein's name was removed from the Yellowstone credits following the #MeToo allegations against him.

The players

Harvey Weinstein

A disgraced film and TV producer who was convicted of sexual assault and is currently serving a prison sentence.

Taylor Sheridan

The co-creator of the hit TV series Yellowstone.

Robert Redford

An acclaimed actor who Weinstein claims Sheridan originally wanted to cast in Yellowstone.

Kevin Costner

The actor who Weinstein claims he advised Sheridan to cast in Yellowstone instead of Redford.

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What they’re saying

“I built our television company. People don't know this, but one of the last things I did was bring Taylor Sheridan to Yellowstone. Sheridan wanted to cast Robert Redford, but I said, 'You need to get Kevin Costner.' And it became a massive hit. But then this happened, and people forget.”

— Harvey Weinstein

The takeaway

Weinstein's claims of involvement in Yellowstone's success, even from prison, highlight his continued attempts to rehabilitate his public image despite the serious allegations against him. His comments raise questions about the extent of his actual role in the show's development and whether he is seeking to insert himself into its success for his own benefit.