Categories Billions Print Media

Hints at What We Can Expect in Billions Season 5 – May 1, 2020

Bobby Axelrod the Predator and That First Table Read of Season 5

by Amy Lyall | 9Entertainment | May 1, 2020

Joining the cast of the hit series Billions for Season 5 was a lot like coming home for Corey Stoll, but it was also a long time coming. The actor admitted he was originally approached by the show’s creators Brian Koppelman and David Levien back in 2016 for the first season. What got him over the line this time was “an offer I couldn’t refuse,” he joked to 9Entertainment.

“During the first season there was a role that they offered me, and it was a fun role for a few episodes but it almost felt like a waste,” he explained. “I remember telling them at the time, let’s wait for something a little juicer, a little more fun — something I can sink my teeth into, and I’m really glad that I did wait because this role is incredibly rich and I get to do so many fun things. I’m glad I waited.”

The first table read was like a reunion with old friends as Stoll revealed he knew a lot of the cast previously from acting school. It was watching friend Maggie Siff (Wendy) on the show that originally drew him in, but he quickly became a fan.

Continue reading Hints at What We Can Expect in Billions Season 5 – May 1, 2020

Categories Billions Fashion and Style

11 TV Shows to Binge for Design Inspiration – May 1, 2020

The Opulence of Billions

by  | Architectural Digest | April 30, 2020

Axe’s apartment is filmed at a 7,500 square foot penthouse apartment in the Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan.

There’s never a wrong time to turn to quality television as home design inspiration. But now that we’re all self-isolating and social distancing within our walls because of the COVID-19 pandemic, plunging through your streaming queue and gazing at a show’s visual style—one that seamlessly complements its story and characters—is a flat-out essential activity. Beyond the benefit of providing some good old-fashioned escapism, the right series with the right set-design eye candy can spark your own creativity and innovation. And in this current golden age of television, a plethora of swoon-worthy options are just a sanitized finger-click away. Check out these all-time greats, whose aesthetics span from the polished world of 1950s New York City to contemporary white-trim California cool. Welcome home.

Billions
That’s billions with a B. And that means brash hedge-fund shark Bobby “Axe” Axelrod (Damian Lewis) must connive and thrive in a two-story Tribeca penthouse befitting an actual Wall Street mogul. Wood gleams and metals shine from the light beaming from 18-foot floor-to-ceiling windows. The showstopper is an Italian blown-glass chandelier, which offers a soft counterpoint to the sharp angles and stark-white furniture. For the sprawling Connecticut estate in the show, production designer Mike Shaw and set decorator Christina Tonkin designed the spacious kitchen and living room to look functional for the Axelrod family. The master bedroom, with sheen-coated fabrics draped over an oversize, elevated bed, is a reflection of the main character’s troubled marriage. (Showtime on Hulu)

Read the rest of the original article at Architectural Digest

Categories Billions Dining Guide Food/Dining Print Media

In Praise of Showtime’s Billions, Where New York’s Restaurants and Food Scene Shined – April 30, 2020

New York’s Vibrant Food Scene

by Elva Ramirez | Forbes | April 30, 2020

When Showtime’s lauded “Billions” returns on May 3, it brings back, in stark relief, a semblance of a New York that no longer exists, and may never come back.

The show, which stars Damian Lewis, Paul Giamatti, and Maggie Siff, among others, is a ripped from the headlines portrait of New York’s new Golden Age, one steered by Bill Ackman-inspired hedge fund titans, their algo- and quant- trading acolytes and the tenacious law enforcement agencies that are occasionally their foes. Anyone watching a show about the lifestyles of the rich can expect views of luxury high rises, glass-enclosed modern offices and the just-so fashion of the quietly powerful (notice how often the people in Bobby Axelrod’s circle wear shades of dark blue, his favorite color; the show’s costume design comes via the talented Eric Daman, who made “Gossip Girl” into a fashion bible).

But there’s one element of the show that always changes, yet remains the same. In nearly episode, New York’s vibrant food scene is lovingly showcased.

Continue reading In Praise of Showtime’s Billions, Where New York’s Restaurants and Food Scene Shined – April 30, 2020

Categories Billions Interviews Print Media

Damian’s Q&A Interview on Billions Season 5 – April 30, 2020

The Wall Street Avengers

by Maria Estevez | amNY News | April 30, 2020

May 3 will see the release of the fifth season of ‘Billions’, a drama series that follows a legal battle of the U.S. Attorney against a self-made millionaire in New York, played by the English actor. Metro chatted with the 49-year-old to learn more.

Money, power, inequality… humanity has been consumed by the class struggle throughout history, and if ‘Game of Thrones’ showed that fight in an imaginary scene, ‘Billions’ does it as a fable about wealth and power in modern life.

English actor Damian Lewis brings to life Bobby Axelrod, a business titan who can jump out of a plane with his friends before a Metallica concert, pick his children up from school or have an enemy killed without any problem. On the other side of the law, we see a prosecutor Chuck Rhoades Jr., played by Paul Giamatti, heir to the old money that is settling at the prestigious Yale Club, where he will meet Catherine Brant, a successful writer (Julianna Margulies).

When Showtime renewed ‘Billions’ for its fifth season, it came as no surprise. According to the audience reports, the series averages 4.5 million viewers per episode in just the U.S. New episodes will see the alliance between Chuck Rhoades (Paul Giamatti) and Bobby Axelrod (Damian Lewis) being terminated. Both will return to their corners of the ring to continue the fight they started in the beginning.

Continue reading Damian’s Q&A Interview on Billions Season 5 – April 30, 2020

Categories Billions Video

Billions Co-Creators Discuss Season 5 with Yahoo! Finance – April 30, 2020

Coronavirus: What Would Bobby Axelrod Do? 

by Staff | Yahoo! Finance | April 30, 2020

Billions co-creators Brian Koppelman and David Levien discuss the premiere of the new Billions season this Sunday in this highlight from Yahoo! Finance:

 

Categories Billions Print Media

Showtime’s Billions Is Back With More Financial Schemes Than Ever – April 29, 2020

Ayahuasca and Cryptocurrency are Just Two New Investment Gambits for Axe Capital in Season 5

by John Jurgensen | Wall Street Journal | April 29, 2020

The new season of the Showtime hit “Billions” opens far from the show’s New York City nucleus of money and power. In a hut in the wilderness, two familiar characters are blitzed on the psychedelic potion ayahuasca.

“It’s almost too much…too much goodness in the world,” says the one known as Wags (David Costabile), the lieutenant of multibillionaire Bobby Axelrod (Damian Lewis). The beatific glow doesn’t last. But their ayahuasca trip leads to one of the many financial schemes that play into the fifth season of the TV series which premieres Sunday night on Showtime.

The angles pursued by Axelrod’s hedge fund, Axe Capital, range from cryptocurrency mining to cornering an economic opportunity zone. These subplots mirror a trend among real-life hedge funds of moving into alternative markets from their traditional base in stocks, says series co-creator and executive producer David Levien. “Because we were looking through that window,” he adds, “it opened up the show to lots of different businesses that weren’t just equity, as the show had been in the past.”

Continue reading Showtime’s Billions Is Back With More Financial Schemes Than Ever – April 29, 2020

Categories Billions Print Media

WWE’s Becky Lynch to Make Cameo on Season 5 Premiere of Billions – April 29, 2020

It’s a Total SmackDown

by Adam Wells | Bleacher Report | April 29, 2020

The WWE Universe will get even more Becky Lynch on their television screens this weekend when The Man appears on Billions. As announced on The Bump, Lynch will make a cameo on the season five premiere of the Showtime series on Sunday.

Brian Koppelman, who co-created the show and serves as an executive producer, wore a Lynch shirt and gave her a standing invitation to appear on the show during a watch party event in April 2019.

Continue reading WWE’s Becky Lynch to Make Cameo on Season 5 Premiere of Billions – April 29, 2020

Categories Billions Fashion and Style Merchandise

Showtime and Concepts Launch Streetwear and Sneakers Capsule – April 28, 2020

Billions Apparel Collaboration 

by Obi Anyanwu | WWD | April 28, 2020

The Boston-based boutique and Showtime Networks are launching on May 1 a capsule collection for the drama series “Billions,” to coincide with the May 3 premiere of the show’s fifth season.

The apparel capsule, which is the first collaboration between the two, is comprised of black and gray T-shirts and hoodies featuring scenes from past episodes, and phrases “anyone can be bought” and “what drives you doesn’t understand enough” on the back. The collection will be available exclusively on the Concepts web site for $35 to $100 and will continue through the summer with a footwear release.

The boutique’s management has been a fan of the show since its beginning, which fueled the capsule, but the team drew inspiration from the show, nostalgia, luxury and New York City for the collection’s design. “Honestly, we would have been involved since the beginning if we could, but the timing couldn’t be better than now,” said Deon Point, creative director of Concepts.

Continue reading Showtime and Concepts Launch Streetwear and Sneakers Capsule – April 28, 2020

Categories Billions Trailer Video

Next on the Season 5 Premiere of Billions – April 27, 2020

Season Premiere Trailer of Billions 

by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | April 27, 2020

Bobby Axelrod reaches a major milestone. Chuck struggles to get his bearings, and he and Wendy (Maggie Siff) navigate a new normal. Tensions are high at Axe Cap now that Taylor Mason (Asia Kate Dillon) is back. Axe faces off against new rival Mike Prince (Corey Stoll). Starring Damian Lewis and Paul Giamatti. Season 5 premieres on Sunday, May 3 at 9/8c.

Continue reading Next on the Season 5 Premiere of Billions – April 27, 2020

Categories Awards Billions Emmy Gold Derby

Emmys 2020 Exclusive – April 14, 2020

Showtime Categories for All Eligible Shows

by Chris Beachum | Gold Derby | April 14, 2020

In a Gold Derby exclusive, we have learned the category placements of the key Emmy Awards contenders for Showtime.

Below, the list of Showtime lead, supporting and guest submissions for their comedy, drama and limited series. More names might be added by the network on the final Emmy ballot. Also note that performers not included on this list may well be submitted by their personal reps.

BILLIONS
Drama Series
Drama Actor – Paul Giamatti, Damian Lewis
Drama Supporting Actor – Kelly AuCoin, David Constabile, Jeffrey DeMunn, Asia Kate Dillon, Dan Soder, Corey Stoll
Drama Supporting Actress – Condola Rashad, Maggie Siff
Drama Guest Actor – Mike Birbiglia, Glenn Fleshler, Terry Kinney, Toby Leonard Moore, Rob Morrow
Drama Guest Actress – Roma Maffia, Julianna Margulies

Continue reading Emmys 2020 Exclusive – April 14, 2020

Categories Billions Trailer Video

Billions Drops Official Trailer #2 and Poster Art for Season 5 – April 8, 2020

That Nasty Addiction Called Money

by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | April 8, 2020

To view season five photostills, please visit our Gallery here

Trailer:

Continue reading Billions Drops Official Trailer #2 and Poster Art for Season 5 – April 8, 2020