Paul Giamatti, Damian Lewis to Star in SHOWTIME New Drama Series BILLIONS

Showtime has picked up the drama BILLIONS to series for 12 one-hour episodes, it was announced today by David Nevins, President of Showtime Networks Inc. Starring Oscar nominee and Emmy and Golden Globe® winner Paul Giamatti and Emmy and Golden Globe winner Damian Lewis, the series is a complex and contemporary drama about power politics in the New York world of high finance. BILLIONS is written and executive produced by Brian Koppelman and David Levien (Ocean's Thirteen, Rounders), and Andrew Ross Sorkin (Too Big To Fail). Beginning production later this year, the series will shoot in New York and is slated for a 2016 premiere.

"The dynamic star pairing of Paul Giamatti and Damian Lewis is matched by an equally exciting team in the writing of this show," said Nevins. "Andrew Ross Sorkin, one of the preeminent financial journalists of our time, has joined forces with Brian Koppelman and David Levien, two of Hollywood's most accomplished screenwriters, to tackle an incredibly timely and buzzy subject. With this caliber of writing and acting, I think the show's authenticity and insider look will have great appeal to a discerning audience."

BILLIONS is a fictional drama that takes an insider look at the world of high finance by tracking the approaching collision between two titanic figures - the hard charging, politically savvy U.S. Attorney Chuck Rhoades (Giamatti), and the brilliant, ambitious hedge fund king, Bobby "Axe" Axelrod (Lewis). Maggie Siff, Malin Akerman, Toby Leonard Moore, David Costabile and Condola Rashad also star. The pilot was directed by acclaimed director Neil Burger (The Illusionist, Divergent), who also serves as an executive producer.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels Showtime 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, Showtime EXTREME®, Showtime BEYOND®, Showtime NEXT®, Showtime WOMEN®, Showtime FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers Showtime HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ HD, Showtime ON DEMAND®, FLIX ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND, and the network's authentication service Showtime ANYTIME®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a Pay-Per-View basis through Showtime PPV.

Photos: JoJo Whilden/SHOWTIME

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