Billions premiere: Showtime series will be available online on 1 January

Showtime's new drama Billions, starring Paul Giamatti and Damian Lewis will premiere early. The first episode of Billions will be available to watch on YouTube, Facebook, iTunes, Hulu, PlayStation Vue, Amazon Prime, and Showtime Anytime on 1 January 2016.

According to Showtime, "The series is a bold, contemporary drama that melds the worlds of ultra-wealth, influence and corruption as personified in two highly ambitious opposing figures: hard-charging, blue-blooded, politically connected US Attorney Chuck Rhoades (Paul Giamatti) and brilliant, calculating, blue-collar billionaire hedge fund king, Bobby "Axe" Axelrod (Damian Lewis). Set amongst the Machiavellian machinations of New York City power politics and finance, Billions weaves a complex, intricate narrative featuring a high-stakes game of predator-versus-prey. Actors Maggie Siff, Malin Akerman, Toby Leonard Moore, David Costabile and Condola Rashad also star."

The show is created and written by Brian Koppelman, David Levien and Andrew Ross Sorkin who are also its executive producers. The pilot was directed by acclaimed director Neil Burger, who also serves as an executive producer on the first two episodes. Billions officially begins its 12-episode run from 17 January.

Paul Giamatti talks about his character Chuck Rhodes in an interview with GQ Magazine. Speaking about his character who is seen in his underwear, tied up, the actor dished, "I don't care about being tied up. That's what I'm supposed to do. But the only thing that ever makes me concerned is that it comes across as believable.

"Because they were writing it not to be goofy or stupid; they were writing it to be a part of the character. You do much more harrowing, embarrassing stuff as an actor than sex stuff. Seriously! I have to watch my kid get killed or something. That's much harder than lying on the floor tied up. It's not a documentary about my sex life," he added.

Click here to watch it online on Showtime and you can also watch the episode online via Showtime Anytime. The episode will also be available on its official Facebook account and its Youtube account.