Showtime’s epic hedge fund drama series Billions has since proven itself to be one of the network’s most iconic shows, with exquisitely compelling performances and writing that have carried it over the course of six seasons. Given where the overall arc of the story has reached thus far, many fans have been quietly wondering where closure will come in. Now, per a report from Deadline, it turns out that the upcoming seventh season of the show will in fact be its last. The grandiose finale of Billions will premiere on Showtime, including its streaming platform, later this summer on August 11. Not only that, Damian Lewis will in fact be returning as Bobby Axelrod.
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Related: Billions Has Multiple Spinoffs Planned at Showtime, Including Millions and Trillions
Billions is a drama series created by Brian Koppelman, David Levien, and Andrew Sorkin for Showtime, which first premiered in 2016. Produced and largely taking place in New York City as well as Connecticut, the show focuses largely on two powerful figureheads. Bobby Axelrod, played by Damian Lewis, is a powerful hedge fund manager who holds incredible leverage in the world of high finance through his use of aggressive but knowledgeable tactics. The ethics and legality (or lack thereof) of those tactics earn the attention of United States Attorney Chuck Rhoades, played by Paul Giamatti, who seeks to uproot and expose Axelrod as the posterboy villain of the financial world, and everything that’s wrong with how greed and power have ensnared the global economy. However, as the story progresses Chuck finds himself at odds with how to successfully wrangle Axe in, given the bureaucratic red tape often blocking his way and Axe’s powerful network that helps him stay out of handcuffs. Chuck finds himself so driven for justice that he starts trying to bend the rules in his own way, no matter the cost.
The show stars Paul Giamatti (A Mouthful of Air), Damian Lewis (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood), David Constable (Breaking Bad), Maggie Siff (Sons of Anarchy), and Asia Kate Dillion (John Wick: Chapter 3), which made Billions the first American television show to cast a non-binary actor. Its creators based Chuck Rhoades on actual US Attorney Preeta Bharara and his prosecution of hedge fund manager Steven A. Cohen, who served as loose inspiration for Bobby Axelrod. Much of the story and its subplots are influenced by actual federal prosecutions of financial crimes.
What to Expect From the Seventh and Final Season
Image via Showtime
Production of the final season of Billions was reportedly somewhat of a challenge, with picketers from WGA East having shut down shoots time and again at its New York City hub as part of the ongoing strike nationwide. Nevertheless, the schedule seemingly reached the finish line, with a confirmed premiere date barely a couple of months away. While a full-length trailer has yet to drop, a couple of very brief teasers from Showtime have let the cat out of the bag. After departing the show at the end of Season 5 for family reasons, and thus being entirely absent through Season 6, Damian Lewis is indeed back as Bobby Axelrod to carry the show undoubtedly to a very dramatic finish line. We last saw him land via a private plane in Switzerland, having fled the country and reluctantly selling his company to fellow hedge fund mogul and rival Mike Prince, after Chuck nearly indicts him for an illegal cannabis banking deal. He’s seemingly settled into neutral territory, but with plenty left unresolved back in the States. Obviously in some way he’ll make it back, which will certainly give Chuck, Wendy, and everyone else quite the surprise. We’ll have to wait and see what happens come August 11.
In the meantime, check out the brand new, very brief teaser showcasing Axe’s return below.
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