Why is Damian Lewis not in Billions season 6?
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Don’t miss the bestand biggest new releases for 2022
Billions will be returning to Showtime in the US with the sixth season on January 23. For fans in the UK, they will be able to watch the following day via Sky Atlantic. Back in October 2021, star of the show Damian Lewis announced he was stepping down as Bobby Axelrod.
Judi Dench refuses to answer probe over her appearance
Why is Damian Lewis not in Billions season 6?
Back in 2021, it was announced the sixth season of Billions will not include actor Damian Lewis.
He played the main character of “Axe” for the first five seasons, leaving fans wondering why he chose to step back from the series.
His original contract for the show was for five seasons and he simply decided not to renew it.
The 50-year-old actor said he wanted to stay closer to his family in the UK.
He was married to renowned actress Helen McCrory, who tragically died in 2021 from breast cancer.
READ MORE: Damian Lewis quits TV series after wife Helen McCrory’s death
‘Billions,’ ‘The Gilded Age,’ ‘Promised Land,’ ‘Resident Alien’: TV This Week
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“Billions”: The entertaining series about rich people doing ruthless things finished Season 5 with a surprise, as original star Damian Lewis departed, taking the character of Bobby Axelrod with him. Fortunately, the talented Corey Stoll is on hand, and his moneybags entrepreneur character, Michael Prince, is taking over Axe Capital. (9 p.m. Sunday, Showtime; you can also stream on fubo TV, which offers a free trial)
“The Gilded Age”: A new period drama from “Downton Abbey” creator Julian Fellowes. Instead of taking place across the pond, the story here is set in New York City, when the Gilded Age of the title was minting new family fortunes, along with establishing old money empires. The cast includes Louisa Jacobson, Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector. (9 p.m. Monday, HBO; stream on HBO Max)
Related: ‘The Gilded Age’ brings the ‘Downton Abbey’ touch to old New York (review)
“Promised Land”: A Latin family pursues wealth and power in this new drama set in California’s Sonoma Valley. John Ortiz stars as the head of the Sandoval family, which owns a vineyard. The cast includes Cecilia Suárez, Augusto Aguilera, Christina Ochoa, Mariel Molino and Bellamy Young. (10 p.m. Monday, ABC; stream on fubo TV, which offers a free trial)
“Resident Alien”: Alan Tudyk returns as the extra-terrestrial alien who’s posing as a human in a comedy-science fiction series inspired by a comic book series published by Dark Horse Comics. (9 p.m. Wednesday, SyFy; stream on fubo TV)
“Fast Foodies”: In Season 2, Kristen Kish, Justin Sutherland and Jeremy Ford once again prepare their versions of celebrity guests’ favorite fast food dishes. (10 p.m. Wednesday, TruTV)
Streaming
“Aziz Ansari: Nightclub Comedian”: A new standup comedy special featuring the actor-comedian, in a performance taped in December of last year. (Available to stream beginning Tuesday, Netflix)
Already streaming
“As We See It”: Jason Katims’ new comedy-drama, based on an Israeli original, follows the experiences of people on the autism spectrum as they go about working, dating and living their lives. The cast includes Rick Glassman, Albert Rutecki and Sue Ann Pien, actors who identify as living on the autism spectrum. (Amazon Prime Video)
“Ozark”: After a lengthy delay, the drama returns for a fourth and final season. We can only hope this installment lives up to the intense, heart-wrenching third season. Jason Bateman, Laura Linney and Julia Garner are among the three standouts who will be back. The final, 14-episode season will arrive in two parts, so this is the first batch of seven episodes. (Available to stream beginning Friday, Netflix)
“Servant”: M. Night Shyamalan’s psychological thriller series returns for its third season. (Available to stream beginning Friday, Apple TV +)
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– Kristi Turnquist
kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist
NFL Divisional Playoffs, ‘Billions’ Is Back, Daryl’s ‘Walking Dead’ History
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The road to the Super Bowl advances with the NFL Divisional Playoffs on Saturday and Sunday. Billions returns to Showtime without one of its original stars. AMC brings its streaming series The Walking Dead: Origins to the linear channel, with actors telling their characters’ story arcs as a build-up to the series’ final episodes.
NFL Playoffs
Now that the playoffs to the playoffs are behind us, the NFL gets down to business with high-stakes gridiron action Saturday and Sunday, all leading to next month’s Super Bowl. First, the Cincinnati Bengals take on the Tennessee Titans (Saturday, 4:30/ET, CBS, streaming on Paramount+) followed by the San Francisco 49ers vs. the Green Bay Packers (8:15/ET, Fox). On Sunday, the Rams go up against the Buccaneers in the afternoon playoff (3 pm/ET, NBC; streaming on Peacock), followed by the Bills vs. the Chiefs on CBS (6:30/ET). This means no 60 Minutes this Sunday, and CBS will follow Sunday’s playoff game with the first of a two-part episode of CSI: Hawaii (approx. 10/9c) that concludes Monday.
Jeff Neumann/SHOWTIME
Billions
Season Premiere 9/8c
SUNDAY: The power balance has shifted with Axe (Damian Lewis) gone and Mike Prince (Corey Stoll) now ruling Axe Capital in the sixth season of the big-money drama. As Chuck Rhoades (Paul Giamatti) zeroes in on his new target, look for new alliances to form as another war commences.
AMC
The Walking Dead: Origins
Series Premiere
SUNDAY: As the epic zombie thriller nears its inevitable end—Part 2 of the extended final season begins Feb. 20—see how it all began when AMC airs a four-part origin anthology (previously exclusive to AMC+) narrated by the actors who brought these iconic characters to life. First up is the heroic story of Daryl Dixon, as told by Norman Reedus. (Negan, Maggie and Carol get their moment in successive weeks.)
Getty
Reframed: Marilyn Monroe
Series Finale 9/8c
SUNDAY: The final two chapters of the biographical docuseries find the iconic movie star/sex symbol at the peak of her popularity and visibility: battling with her studio, marrying playwright Arthur Miller as she pursues more serious roles, triumphing in her greatest comic performance (Some Like It Hot), and reveling in celebrity by singing “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy. Her untimely death in 1962 only burnished her mystique, and we’re still talking about her 60 years later.
Inside Weekend TV:
Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom: An Updated Cast List
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After briefly appearing in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and then working with his fellow superheroes to defeat Steppenwolf and his Parademon army in Justice League, Jason Momoa’s Arthur Curry finally got the cinematic spotlight to himself in 2018’s Aquaman. Like the fictional Aquaman movie helmed by James Cameron in the Entourage universe, the real deal directed by James Wan was a smash hit at the box office, becoming the highest-grossing DC Comics movie with its $1.148 billion haul. So no one should be surprised that Warner Bros. and DC pulled the trigger on Aquaman 2, officially titled Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
With filming on Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom finally beginning in June 2021 and concluding the following December, the sequel is still on track to be released towards the end of 2022. Specific plot details are still being kept close to the vest, but we do know who’s making up The Lost Kingdom’s main cast, so let’s go over the familiar and new faces who will be along for the ride.
(Image credit: Warner Bros)
Jason Momoa
Although he came to Atlantis’ aid during Justice League, Jason Momoa’s Arthur Curry didn’t want anything to do with the underwater civilization going into Aquaman, as he thought they’d executed his mother Atlanna for loving a human man and having a half-breed son. However, Arthur was forced to get involved in Atlantis’ affairs when his brother Orm declared war on the surface, putting him on a journey that led him to discovering that his mother was alive and ultimately becoming the new king of Atlantis.
By the time Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom begins, it’s possible Arthur may have a firm grasp on how to be an effective ruler, but it’s also plausible he’s still going through some growing pains. Either way, he’ll be kept busy with both the emergence of the sequel’s title location and the emergence of enemies both old and new. But hey, at least he has a new costume to wear!
(Image credit: Warner Bros.)
Amber Heard
Arthur Curry wouldn’t have come to Atlantis’ aid in Aquaman if it wasn’t for Amber Heard’s Mera, who debuted in Justice League and has the ability to manipulate water. The daughter of King Nereus, the ruler of Xebel, was betrothed to Orm Marius, but when she learned about his plans to destroy the surface world, she turned to Arthur to help her stop this scheme.
During the course of their journey together, Arthur and Mera developed feelings for each other, and now Mera rules by his side as queen of Atlantis. Count on her continuing to aid him against the threats that emerge in this sequel.
(Image credit: Warner Bros.)
Patrick Wilson
Having already worked with James Wan on two Conjuring movies and two Insidious movies, Patrick Wilson came aboard Aquaman to play its chief antagonist, Orm Marius, a.k.a. Ocean Master, Arthur Curry’s younger half-brother. Following the death of his father, Orvax, and with Arthur wanting nothing to do with Atlantis, Orm was crowned king of the underwater nation, but that wasn’t enough for him. Despising the surface world for polluting the oceans, he attempted to establish an alliance between the other underwater kingdoms so that they could eradicate humanity.
Had Mera and Willem Dafoe’s Vulko not sought Arthur’s help, Orm might have succeeded, but in the end, he was vanquished. Arthur decided to spare Orm’s life, and with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’s synopsis teasing our hero forging “an uneasy alliance with an unlikely ally,” don’t be surprised if this ends up being Wilson’s character.
(Image credit: Warner Bros.)
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s David Kane was already on a bad path when we met him in Aquaman, as he was part of a group of pirates led by his father, Jesse Kane. However, with Arthur Curry foiling their hijacking of a submarine and indirectly causing Jesse’s death, David vowed revenge. Thanks to Orm (who hired the pirates for the hijacking), he was provided Atlantean technology to craft his first Black Manta suit, but that still wasn’t enough to for him to defeat Arthur.
Fortunately, David was later rescued by Dr. Stephen Shin, and the mercenary agreed to show the marine biologist where Atlantis was located in exchange for his help in exacting vengeance on Arthur. While it remains to be see if Black Manta is Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’s main villain or not, between the mid-credits scene in the first movie and he fact that he will be wearing a new suit, it stands to reason he’ll be getting more screen time.
(Image credit: Warner Bros.)
Dolph Lundgren
Although King Nereus was Mera’s former betrothed in the main DC Comics continuity, he was reimagined as her father in the DC Extended Universe. Like his comic book counterpart though, Dolph Lundgren’s version of the character also rules Xebel, which enjoys a better relationship with Atlantis in this reality. In Aquaman, Nereus was tricked by Orm into joining his campaign against the surface world and even arranged Mera to marry Orm.
But upon learning the truth of Orm’s machinations and witnessing Arthur Curry control an army of sea creatures, including The Trench, in the movie’s climactic conflict, Nereus’ allegiances shifted. He is now a loyal follower of King Arthur, and with his daughter now queen, it’s hard to imagine him not still supporting them in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
(Image credit: Warner Bros.)
Nicole Kidman
Arthur Curry discovered during the events of Aquaman that his mother wasn’t murdered like he believed. When Nicole Kidman’s Atlanna returned to Atlantis following her time with Thomas Curry, she went through with her arranged marriage to Orvax, and together they had Orm. Years later, Orvax discovered she’d had an illegitimate child with a human and sentenced her to be sacrificed to The Trench.
Atlanna avoided being torn apart by going through an underwater wormhole which took her to the Hidden Sea, but the downside was that she remained trapped in this other realm for decades. Luckily, upon being found by Arthur and Mera in the present day, she was finally able to escape imprisonment and reunite with Thomas. Don’t be surprised if like in the first movie, we get to see her in action for a little bit during Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
(Image credit: Warner Bros.)
Temuera Morrison
Lighthouse keeper Thomas Curry, played by Temuera Morrison, saved Atlanna from perishing in a storm in 1985, and they quickly fell in love and had a son together. However, when Atlanna left her family behind to keep them safe from Atlantean forces, it broke Thomas’ heart, and he would go out every day to see if Atlanna returned. Thomas wasn’t involved with Aquaman’s main events beyond being caught in one of Orm’s attacks in the surface world, but he got a happy ending upon reuniting with Atlanna.
I won’t lie though, I’m concerned about Thomas’ well being in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. In the comics, Thomas died of a heart attack during a confrontation with Black Manta, and with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s version of the villain more desperate for revenge than ever, he could easily put Morrison’s Thomas in his crosshairs.
(Image credit: Warner Bros.)
Randall Park
Randall Park only had a minor role as Dr. Stephen Shin in Aquaman, mainly appearing on TV as a marine biologist fired from the United States Institute of Marine Science for his conspiracy theories about Atlantis. It wasn’t until the mid-credits scene that Shin became an important player in the wider Aquaman saga, as he rescued Black Manta after he was defeated by Aquaman.
Realizing that Manta was using Atlantean technology, he asked the antagonist if he could lead him to Atlantis. David Kane agreed if Shin would help him find Aquaman. So expect Shin to play some kind of role in whatever sinister machinations Black Manta has planned, though if he’s like his comic book counterpart, he may eventually experience second thoughts.
(Image credit: Warner Bros.)
Vincent Regan
Within the DCEU mythology, Atlan was the first king of Atlantis, and led his warriors in battle alongside humanity and the Amazons when Darkseid’s forces invaded Earth millennia ago. However, while running an experiment with his powerful trident, Atlan accidentally sunk Atlantis. Guilt-ridden over what happened, Atlan exiled himself to the Hidden Sea, and before he died, he decreed that only the person capable of properly wielding his trident could “unite all our kingdoms above and below.”
Atlan was played by The Hobbit trilogy’s Graham McTavish in Aquaman, but Vincent Regan from Clash of the Titans is taking over the role in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. While Atlan was resurrected as an icy monstrosity in the New 52 continuity, the smart money is on Regan’s Atlan appearing solely through flashbacks, just like McTavish’s version.
(Image credit: FX)
Indya Moore
So far only one new established DC Comics character has been confirmed for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and weirdly enough, it’s not someone closely tied to Aquaman’s corner of the DC universe. Oh sure, as a tiger shark mutated by nuclear waste, Karshon would be right as home in Arthur Curry’s rogues gallery, but this villain is traditionally seen fighting Green Lantern. Nevertheless, The Lost Kingdom is bringing Karshon into the fold, and they’ll be played by Pose’s Indya Moore. There still aren’t any details about what we can expect from this version of Karshon, though I suspect the nuclear waste aspect of the character won’t be depicted on film.
(Image credit: Plural Entertainment)
Jani Zhao
Usually in comic book movies, most of the starring characters are people who are from the comics, but there’s still some room for brand-new people. In the case of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Jani Zhao has been tapped to play someone named Stingray, and it’s unclear if this will be an ally or enemy to Arthur Curry. With a name like Stingray though, it’s probably safe to say this is someone from one of the Atlantean kingdoms rather than a surface dweller.
(Image credit: HBO)
Pilou Asbæk
Before Jason Momoa’s fame skyrocketed from his time in the DCEU, he was arguably best known for playing Khal Drago in Game of Thrones. Well, another alum from the hit HBO series is taking part in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom: Pilou Asbæk, who played Euron Grejoy. Unlike everyone else who’s previously been mentioned though, we don’t even know the name of Asbæk’s character in the Aquaman sequel, so it’s anyone’s guess for now how he fits into the picture.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is set to make a splash in theaters on December 16, 2022, and we here at CinemaBlend will keep you informed about more casting details as they come in. Don’t forget to also scan through our upcoming DC movies guide to learn what else the DCEU has on the way.
What’s on TV This Week: Michelle Obama and ‘Billions’
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Between network, cable and streaming, the modern television landscape is a vast one. Here are some of the shows, specials and movies coming to TV this week, Jan. 17-23. Details and times are subject to change.
Monday
BET HER PRESENTS … BECOMING: MICHELLE OBAMA IN CONVERSATION 7 p.m. on BET. Michelle Obama joins the stage to discuss some themes from her acclaimed 2018 memoir, “Becoming,” with students from about 20 colleges. Obama will speak on topical issues such as diversity and inclusion on college campuses and students’ mental wellness. The program will be moderated by Yara Shahidi.
Tuesday
STORAGE WARS 9:30 p.m. on A&E. To bid, buy or sell? That is the question. The unbridled auction battles of “Storage Wars” return in the show’s 300th episode. The married auctioneer hosts, Dan and Laura Dotson, lead buyers through unpredictable storage units in hopes of hitting the jackpot rather than uncovering abandoned junk.
PHILADELPHIA (1993) 8 p.m. on Showtime. If you’re looking for a quality classic, look no further. Andrew Beckett (Tom Hanks), a gay man with AIDS, is fired from his Philadelphia law firm because of his illness. He struggles to find a lawyer who will represent him in court. Joe Miller (Denzel Washington) is the only attorney willing to take on his case; the two team up to fight his wrongful dismissal. “Philadelphia” was one of the first Hollywood movies to take the AIDS epidemic seriously. The film “mostly succeeds in being forceful, impassioned and moving, sometimes even rising to the full range of emotion that its subject warrants,” Janet Maslin wrote in her review for The New York Times.