In 2021, audiences said farewell to Damien Lewis’ Billions character Bobby Axelrod after five seasons, and his departure ended up significantly impacting season 6. Bobby Axelrod, the self-made billionaire hedge fund manager from Yonkers, and Chuck Rhoades, the justice-at-all-costs-seeking U.S. Attorney, butt heads time and again as Rhoades leads the charge against financial corruption in America by repeatedly attempting to make an example out of Axelrod.
Ultimately, Rhoades gets the upper hand for good by the end of season 5, but the ever-elusive Axelrod still manages to avoid prosecution by fleeing to Switzerland with a couple of billion dollars to spare. However, what came next for the pair of rivals was less clear as Damian Lewis revealed that he wouldn’t be returning for season 6, in part due to a tragic loss in his family. It altered the course of the series going forward.
Why Damien Lewis Left & What Happened To Bobby Axelrod
In an unexpected twist, Bobby Axelrod’s escape to Switzerland ended up being synonymous with Damian Lewis’ departure from Billions itself. The New York Times interviewed Lewis shortly after season 5’s finale and revealed his exit had actually been in the works for “several years.” The former Homeland actor also made sure to emphasize that, while the passing of his wife, actress Helen McCrory, was not a deciding factor in why he left Billions, the decision formed “part of a long-standing plan to spend more time with his family in England” [via LA Times].
According to Damian Lewis, this neatly dove-tailed with the end of his five-season contract and feeling like Bobby Axelrod’s arc was complete. “It’s difficult to keep mining, creatively,” Lewis said, adding, “We know who [Axelrod] is.” Given this satisfying narrative conclusion for the character, it became clear that it was the right time to leave.
How Damian Lewis’ Departure Affected Showtime’s Billions
Even though Showtime and Billions’ showrunners prepared for Damian Lewis’ departure, they most likely had no idea how severe the consequences, like season 6’s reception, would be. Billions transitioned into season 6 with season 5 guest star Corey Stoll being promoted to series regular as Michael Prince, another self-made billionaire who finds himself at odds with Chuck Rhoades. Unfortunately, Season 6 promptly received the worst reviews of Billions‘ run, although some of that was a reflection of review bombers causing ratings problem for IMDb and other sites. Still, it was undeniable that Billions lost a lot of what made it so compelling after Damian Lewis’ Bobby Axelrod left.
Damian Lewis Is Returning For Billions Season 7
For those who had negative feelings about Billions season after Damian Lewis departed the series, good news came in February 2023. It was announced that Lewis would be returning to Billions in the upcoming season 7. Although not much is known about the new season, Lewis did say on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert that “Axe is back, and it’s exciting.” The only detail that has been revealed about the return is that Lewis will appear in six of the 12 episodes scheduled for Billions season 7 (via Deadline). This could mark a step up in quality for the show once more.
