The new comedy series Bait follows Riz Ahmed as a struggling actor whose life falls apart when he auditions to be the next James Bond. All six episodes of the show will be available to stream on March 25, 2026, exclusively on Amazon Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories.
The show premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival before its global streaming release. Ahmed stars in, wrote, and co-showruns the series, which uses the high-pressure world of Bond casting to explore themes of identity and ambition.
Plot Summary and Main Theme
Bait centers on Shah Latif (Riz Ahmed), a London actor whose career is going nowhere. His life changes completely when he gets an audition for the role of James Bond. This opportunity should be his big break. Instead, it starts four days of chaos as his personal and professional worlds collide.
The story tracks how the rumor of his potential casting spreads. Shah must deal with intense reactions from his family, an ex-lover, and public opinion, all while questioning if he is right for the part. Ahmed explained that Bond serves as a symbol in the story, representing the ultimate validation his character seeks.
“I had been keeping notes of all the contradictions that make up my life,” Ahmed said. “What inspired it is sometimes life feels like one big audition. We’re all trying to prove ourselves online, chasing the validation of strangers and looking for approval. I wanted to make a show that explores that.”
Cast and Character Guide
The series features a strong ensemble cast of British talent.
- Riz Ahmed leads as Shah Latif, the struggling actor at the story’s center. Ahmed is known for his Oscar-nominated role in Sound of Metal and the series The Night Of.
- Guz Khan plays Zulfi, Shah’s friend. Khan is famous for his comedy series Man Like Mobeen.
- Sheeba Chaddha portrays Tahira, a member of Shah’s family. Her credits include Badhaai Do and Bandish Bandits.
- Sajid Hasan is Parvez, another family member. He is a well-known actor from Pakistani television.
- Aasiya Shah plays Q. Her past work includes Raised By Wolves.
- Weruche Opia stars as Felicia, Shah’s ex-lover. Opia was in the critically acclaimed series I May Destroy You.
- Ritu Arya takes the role of Yasmin. Audiences know her from The Umbrella Academy and the film Barbie.
Global Streaming Release Information
Bait is a Prime Video Original series. This means it is produced for and will stream exclusively on Amazon’s platform.
- Release Date: All six episodes will be released at once on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
- Platform: Amazon Prime Video.
- Availability: The series will be accessible in over 240 countries and territories worldwide.
To watch, you need an active Amazon Prime or Prime Video subscription. In the United States, a Prime membership costs $14.99 per month or $139 annually. Discounts are often available for students and recipients of certain government assistance programs. Viewers should check their local Amazon website for specific pricing and plans in their region.
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Behind the Scenes and Production Details
Riz Ahmed is the creator, writer, and star of the series. He also serves as an executive producer and co-showrunner alongside Ben Karlin. Karlin is a veteran comedy producer known for his work on The Daily Show and Modern Family.
The series is executive produced by Ahmed and Allie Moore for Left Handed Films, and Jake Fuller for Jax Media. The production companies involved are Jax Media, Left Handed Films, and Amazon MGM Studios. Filming took place in the United Kingdom in late 2024 under the working title Quarter Life.
The writing team includes Dipika Guha, Prashanth Venkataramanujam, Karen Joseph Adcock, Azam Mahmood, and Fatima Farheen Mirza, working from Ahmed’s original concept.
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