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.
Advertisement
Starring Damian Lewis and Paul Giamatti, who won Emmy awards for Homeland and John Adams respectively, Billions just released its first full-length trailer. But who is actually the villain in this tail? “They’re pushed by various things of their personalities”, he stated.
Giamatti said that, as opposed to his work with film and theater, he liked having ambiguity with his character and the series. “The kind of joy of that is really unique, too”.
The British-born actor played another powerful figure, King Henry VIII, in “Wolf Hall“, and acknowledged parallels between the two. Over time, viewers will discover who his character turns out to be and what he’s prepared to do to retain power, the actor said.
It also gives Lewis a chance to flawless his Yonkers accent. “So this is going to be great”. And the guys just repeatedly said, ‘That’s terrible. It was a “generic, Midwest nothing”, he said, then hastily added, “Anyone from the Midwest, I apologize”. “It shouldn’t be accented from the West or the East, and that’s kind of how I bluff through”. The Showtime series already is earning some serious buzz well ahead of its debut in 2016, and this brand new trailer certainly keeps up the excitement level.
Advertisement
Whether Billions will be a realistic portrayal of unscrupulous practices of Wall Street that invites further public calls for reform or a glorification of a win-at-all-costs attitude remains to be seen-at 10 p.m. on Sunday, January 17.
