Damian Lewis is one of the key players who transformed Billions into the show it is today, but he’s ready to say goodbye. The Emmy-winning actor announced he’s leaving the beloved Showtime drama after five seasons.
Lewis recently set down with The New York Times to discussed his departure and said he’s ready to move on from playing Axe, admitting it’s “difficult to keep mining, creatively” because we know who he is. The actor added there’s an opportunity for him to return in the future, but he’ll no longer be a member of the show’s main cast when Billions returns to Showtime on January 23rd, 2022.
Brian Koppelman, who serves as showrunner of Billions with David Levien, bid farewell to Lewis on Twitter and thanked him for his time on the show. “What an incredible joy to spend five years working so closely with the great Damian Lewis! David Levien and I are beyond grateful to you, Damian, for the work, of course, and the fellowship, and for all you sacrificed to come do this with us.”
This isn’t the first time Lewis exited a Showtime show before it concluded its run. He previously left Homeland in 2013 after three seasons.
