Showtime invests in Billions

US cablenet Showtime has ordered a drama series about the world of high finance starring Wolf Hall and Homeland actor Damian Lewis and Oscar nominee Paul Giamatti.

Damian Lewis (right) in Homeland

Billions (12×60’) is billed as a “complex and contemporary drama about power politics in the New York world of high finance.” Giamatti stars as a savvy US attorney while Lewis plays the role of ambitious hedge fund manager Bobby “Axe” Axelrod.

The drama is written and exec produced by Brian Koppelman and David Levien (Ocean’s Thirteen, Rounders), and Andrew Ross Sorkin (Too Big To Fail).

The series will begin production in New York this year for a 2016 premiere on the CBS Corp-owned channel.

The pilot was directed by a Neil Burger (The Illusionist, Divergent), who is also an exec producer. CBS Studios International will handle global distribution.