‘Billions’ star Damian Lewis makes shocking exit ahead of Season 6

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentUndeterred by the pandemic, the wheels of Switzerland’s film production machine kept on spinning in 2021, churning out the meticulously made multicultural co-productions the country is known for that scored slots at top festivals.Works by young directors such as Elie Grappe, whose coming-of-age drama “Olga” launched at Cannes; Niccolò Castelli’s terrorism-themed “Atlas,” which bowed at Locarno; and also the VR project “Caves” by Carlos Isabel Garcìa, which premiered at Venice; provided a preamble to the exceptionally strong Swiss presence at this year’s Berlinale.Berlin sees a record-breaking two competition slots filled by new works from established Swiss directors, Ursula Meier’s “The Line” and Michael Koch’s “A Piece of Sky,” plus several more Swiss titles in other sections. “In the worst year ever we shot three productions back-to-back during the pandemic; somehow we got used to it,” says Oscar-nominated Max Karli (“My Life as a Zucchini”), who is among the producers of “The Line” via his Geneva-based Bandita Productions, in tandem with Pauline Gygax.In Switzerland, the film and TV industry held firm last year as one of the few sectors where camera crews and actors continued to work, unlike advertising, which shuttered completely for many months.“It was quite hard because we were shooting without insurance pertaining to anything linked to the pandemic,” Karli says, though some government subsidies were made available for physical productions struck by COVID infections.But, as Karli and other Swiss producers point out, Switzerland is a confederation.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentLola Arabia, the United Arab Emirates label of Oscar-winning Spanish producer Andrés Vicente Gómez (“Belle Epoque”), has struck a 12-movie co-production deal with Dubai-based Charisma Group.The alliance will take in a range of titles, from $2 million-budgeted contemporary comedies to banner productions budgeted at $40 million, revolving around contemporary and historic stories of West Asia.The partners aim to produce an average of four films a year, said Charisma Group co-president Ayham Al Ziyoud.Development has begun on the whole slate. “Although in principle we plan projects with modest budgets, these will be increased in the following year once we find the rights partners outside the Gulf States,” Gómez said.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentAt 81, Italian horror maestro Dario Argento is busier than ever.The director of a string of cult chiller classics starting in the 1970s, including “The Bird With the Crystal Plumage,” “Suspiria” and “Deep Red,” was at Cannes last July with his acting debut in Gaspar Noe’s “Vortex,” about a pair of old lovers. Argento was also celebrated last year with a new book by Italian critic Steve Della Casa and a retro at New York’s Lincoln Center.

Liverpool star Luis Diaz was so good on his Premier League debut against Leicester that he had the BT Sport pundits “drooling” over him, according to Michael Owen.There is a lot of excitement around Diaz, who joined Liverpool in the January transfer window from Porto for an initial fee of £37.5million, which could increase by a further £12.5m.Liverpool fans got a chance to see him for the first time in the 3-1 win over Cardiff City in the FA Cup on the weekend, but the Colombian international made his full debut at Anfield on Thursday night. He didn’t disappoint, putting in an exciting performance on the left side of Jurgen Klopp ’s front three as the hosts ran out 2-0 winners over Leicester.

Coldplay have reacted to BLACKPINK member Rosé‘s recent cover of their 2008 song ‘Viva La Vida’.The K-pop idol shared a new stripped-down, live studio cover of Coldplay’s seminal 2008 track earlier today (February 11) in celebration of her birthday, accompanied by The Black Label producer LØREN on guitar.The British band have since taken notice of her cover, sharing a link to the video on their Instagram Story, while wishing the Korean-Australian singer a happy birthday. “Love this.

BLACKPINK’s Rosé has unveiled three new live studio covers in commemoration of her 25th birthday.The Korean-Australian vocalist surprised fans with three new “live studio” acoustic covers of songs by Coldplay, Neck Deep and Oasis on her personal YouTube channel today (February 11), in celebration of her 25th birthday.The first, which dropped in the early hours of February 11, was a cover of Coldplay’s 2008 hit ‘Viva La Vida’. “I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing / Roman Cavalry choirs are singing / Be my mirror, my sword and shield / My missionaries in a foreign field,” the K-pop idol sings, while reading the lyrics off her phone.It was followed by a truncated version of Neckdeep’s 2015 single ‘December’, as well as a tender and slowed-down rendition of Oasis’ 1995 classic ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’.

The Apprentice has shared a series of inside secrets on what happens behind the scenes on the show on social media. Former contestant Lottie Lion who appeared on series 15 of the show in 2019, dished the dirt about the show's juiciest facts and secrets on TikTok.Speaker to her fans on the video making app, Lottie claimed that two versions of the final are filmed in advance.Lottie, who was just 19 when she appeared on the show, shared that the second version is filmed to allow Lord Alan Sugar to change his mind if any bad press emerges about his intended candidate before the show's release.The 21-year-old also revealed that ahead of each challenge, the teams are issued with a report that outlines various options they can pick - including colour schemes.The revelation about the report may surprise viewers after this year's series saw the Boy's Team in the first few episodes repeatedly use a colour scheme of green and brown in two separate tasks.Lottie also revealed that the same process is in place for product names, as the production teams then cross-reference them with copyrighted businesses to make sure they are freely available to be used on-screen.Lottie's number one tip to determine who won the series is to go back through each candidate's social media feeds and see who has the longest gap between posting about the current series.The idea behind this is that as soon as a candidate is fired they can return to their regular day to day lives instead of being involved in the full 12 week process.The Daily Star has approached the BBC for comment.

drug cartel have issued a grave warning to prison staff as they threatened to 'heat up' multiple jails and 'kill more people'.Members of the organised criminal gang, who operate in the state of Nuevo León in Mexico, appeared in a threat video clad in balaclavas and holding automatic weapons as they read out the names of officials who run correctional facilities in the city of Monterrey.In the footage, a gang member is heard saying they will begin inciting violence at prisons and in the streets, and will intercept prison transfers unless Aldo Fasci and Samuel Garcia comply with their demands.Towards the start of the message they allege that prison officers have been "charging fees" and extorting money from inmates, before telling them that "you're not going to contain a city with various inmates inside a cell".They also accuse guards of leaving prisoners without "blankets, portions of food or proper quarters", and claim they have forced them to tend to their personal matters with the use of a bucket.The threat then continues: "You must stop already with these abuses. "The only thing they're provoking are conflicts.

Ashley Graham has shared the first photograph of her newborn twins and revealed their sweet names with a breastfeeding snap. The model, 34, who took to Instagram to announce the exciting news that she has given birth to twin boys in January following a home birth, posted the photo to her 16.4million followers and revealed that the couple had named their sons Malachi and Roman. Ashley was photographed by her husband and film director Justin Ervin, 41, and was seen holding one baby on her shoulder while breastfeeding her second little one.

Damian Lewis and Guy Pearce are to lead the line of limited drama series A Spy Among Friends.

Manori Ravindran International EditorDamian Lewis and Guy Pearce are teaming up for “A Spy Among Friends,” a limited series for BritBox U.K. and Spectrum.The show is based on the eponymous 2014 New York Times-bestselling book by Ben Macintyre, and produced by Sony Pictures Television, ITV Studios and Veritas Entertainment Group.

Billions spoilers follow. Billions' season 5 finale aired in the US on Sunday (October 3), and shocked fans by saying goodbye to Damian Lewis' character Bobby 'Axe' Axelrod.

Damian Lewis has confirmed he is leaving Showtime's Billions after season five.The actor, 50, who has played Bobby Axelrod on the show since 2016, revealed he is leaving the show six months after the death of his wife Helen McCrory.On Sunday, the actor wrote on Twitter: 'Thank you Billions thank you. A pleasure and a privilege to play Axe for 5 seasons with some of the smartest, funniest most talented cast and crew I've worked with...'I'll miss the Billions family.

Damian Lewis has announced the news that he will be leaving his hit show Billions after season five.

Damian Lewis is speaking out for the first time after ending his five-season run as Bobby Axelrod on Showtime’s Billions. Lewis took to Twitter this morning following Sunday night’s Season 5 finale, to thank the show’s co-creators, cast and crew.

Damian Lewis has exited Showtime’s "Billions." With his very rich Bobby Axelrod on the run in Switzerland from the legal claws of Paul Giamatti’s Empire State Attorney General, Emmy winner Lewis ended his five season run on the Brian Koppelman, David Levien, and Andrew Ross Sorkin-created, high finance drama with a smile tonight. After years of staying just one step ahead of the law and a big loss, Axelrod also saw nearly all his considerable fortune gone as he settled down to a handcuffs-free life in Europe.

Damian Lewis has officially exited his hit TV show Billions.

Damian Lewis will not return as a regular for “Billions” season 6.

Cynthia Littleton Business EditorSPOILER ALERT: Do not read if you have not watched “No Direction Home,” the Season 5 finale episode of Showtime drama “Billions.” Damian Lewis has signed off of “Billions” after a five-season run as the alpha-male hedge fund billionaire Bobby Axelrod.The Showtime drama series set in the world of billionaires and global high-finance has already been renewed for a sixth season. Production is under way with Corey Stoll’s Mike Prince character taking center stage alongside Paul Giamatti’s Chuck Rhoades and Maggie Siff’s Wendy Rhoades.

SPOILER ALERT: This post contains details of the Billions Season 5 finale that debuted on streaming early this morning and on Showtime tonight

Cynthia Littleton Business EditorSPOILER ALERT:  Do not read if you have not seen “No Direction Home,” the Season 5 finale of “Billions.”“Billions” will get a big reset in its upcoming sixth season as the durable Showtime drama shift its prism on the world of billionaires, vulture capitalists and global high finance.“Billions” co-creators Brian Koppelman and David Levien confirm that Damian Lewis has bowed out after five seasons as the show’s central figure, the meglomaniac hedge fund billionaire Bobby Axelrod. Lewis may come back in the future — you can never say never — but Season 6 will move forward with a new king of what was once Axe’s castle, Mike Prince as played by Corey Stoll.