Showtime is deepening its investment in Billions.
Just three weeks into the drama’s sophomore run, the network has picked it up for a third season. Showtime’s interest in Billions is easy to understand. The project has been a strong draw since its premiere 14 months ago. Airing after flagship Homeland, the second season premiered on Feb. 19 (after a robust streaming sampling) and has thus far netted an audience of 4.4 million viewers.
“Billions continues to be a show on the rise, growing not only in audience, but in critical buzz and cultural relevance,” said Showtime Networks president and CEO David Nevins. “It offers a unique mix of pure entertainment with sly commentary on our current have/have-not economy. Season two is off to a tremendous start, and has only whetted our audience’s appetite for what will come in season three.”
With Homeland already locked for an additional two seasons on top of its current run, Billions will be part of a returning drama roster that also includes Shameless, Ray Donovan and The Affair. Upcoming dramas include The Chi and a two-season commitment to Daniel Craig starrer Purity — in addition to the slew of limited series on the horizon.
Billions, created by Brian Koppelman, David Levien and New York Times financial columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin, stars network favorite and Homeland alum Damian Lewis, as well as Paul Giamatti, Maggie Siff and Malin Akerman. It chronicles the perennial clashing of a U.S. Attorney (Giamatti) and a hedge fund king (Lewis) on a quest for personal and professional domination.
