Is Riz Ahmed the new James Bond? Prime Video drama's latest trailer promises the laughs
Riz Ahmed's 'Bait' is one of Prime Video's much-awaited shows of the year, and the trailer shows exactly why. The dramedy's latest clip features the 'Venom' actor as the star, the writer, and the showrunner of the upcoming six-part series set to release March 25.
'Bait' follows Shah Latif, a struggling actor after his last chance comes in the form an audition to play James Bond. The show follows how his world is turned upside down as everyone around him, including his ex-lover debate on whether he is fit to play the greatest spy ever lived. The series also stars Guz Khan as Zulfi, Sheeba Chaddha as Tahira, Sajid Hasan as Parvez, Aasiya Shah as Q, Weruche Opia as Felicia, and Ritu Arya as Yasmin.
Per Amazon Studios, the official synopsis reads, "Bait stars Ahmed as Shah Latif, a struggling actor, whose last chance to hit it big comes in the form of an audition of a lifetime. The series follows him over the course of four wild days as his life spirals out of control and his family, ex-lover and the entire world weigh in on whether he is the right man for the job."
The streamer released a clip on Tuesday showing Latif's family excitedly questioning him about public rumors that he’ll be playing Bond, with a Studio-style camera setup. What follows is a a frantic few days for Latif that promises laughs in copious doses. The series sees Ben Karlin serving as one of the executive producers and co-showrunners alongside Ahmed. Allie Moore for Left Handed and Jake Fuller on behalf of Jax Media come in as EPs as well.
Speaking to GQ, Ahmed previewed the dramedy. “It's a real mixed bag," he said. "It's comedy. It's also trying to look at some emotional things. It's about family, it's about ambition, it's about trying to belong.” He further added, “I love this idea that this guy is auditioning to be the next James Bond, but when word gets out that he might be the next James Bond, very quickly his life starts to mimic the role he is auditioning. In many ways, this thing that he wants to be, he already is, just by living in this body in this time. He's already in the chase sequence, man. He's just chasing validation, and being chased by his inner critic."
'Bait' releases March 25, 2026 on Prime Video.
