Riz Ahmeds Bait Series Premieres on Prime Video

Riz Ahmed's new comedy-drama series "Bait" premiered on Prime Video on March 25, 2026, following a struggling British-Pakistani actor whose botched audition for James Bond catapults him into a whirlwind of fame, family tensions and personal turmoil.

In the six-episode series, Ahmed portrays Shah Latif, a London-based performer facing career stagnation. During his audition for the iconic 007 role, Shah repeatedly forgets his lines, frustrating the director. Desperate to stay relevant, he stages a paparazzi encounter outside the studio, which goes viral and fuels speculation that he is a leading candidate to become the first non-white James Bond. Over four chaotic days, Shah's life unravels as online buzz turns into real-world consequences, including a hate crime at his family's home in Wembley. He grapples with an identity crisis, consulting a frozen pig's head—voiced by Patrick Stewart—that embodies his inner doubts, while navigating pressures from his immigrant parents, cousin and ex-girlfriend.

The ensemble cast brings depth to Shah's world. Guz Khan plays Zulfi, Shah's cousin and close friend who runs a Muslim-focused taxi app and sees opportunity in the buzz. Sheeba Chaddha...