Riz Ahmed returns with the twisty new Prime Video series ‘Bait
Riz Ahmed returns with the twisty new Prime Video series ‘Bait
The six-episode dark comedy follows a struggling actor over four chaotic days as his big break threatens to unravel everything.
I don’t know about you, but Tara and I have been waiting for Riz Ahmed to come back to TV for a long time. We absolutely loved “The Night Of,” and ever since then, I’ve kind of been hoping he’d find another series that really lets him cook. Well, it’s finally happening. Prime Video’s upcoming series “Bait,” drops Wednesday, March 25. This one follows a struggling actor whose life completely unravels over four chaotic days right when he’s about to land the role of a lifetime. It’s billed as a comedy, but don’t get it twisted. There are some seriously psychological, spiral-into-existential-dread vibes in here too. Here’s everything you need to know before “Bait” hits streaming next month.
Everything you need to know about ‘Bait’
When does ‘Bait’ come out?
“Bait” premieres Wednesday, March 25 on Prime Video. All six episodes will be available at once, so yes, this is a full binge situation. No weekly waiting or cliffhanger torture. Let’s go!
Can you watch ‘Bait’ for free once it starts streaming?
Yep, you can watch for free with some caveats. Prime Video still offers a 30-day free trial for eligible new users, so if that’s still available and you qualify when “Bait” drops, you should be able to stream it without paying. After that, a Prime Video subscription costs $9 per month with ads or $12 per month ad-free. I get Prime Video through my annual Amazon Prime subscription, which is another easy way to watch all their great shows, including “Fallout” and “The Boys.”
Prime Video
Prime Video is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 10,000+ movies, TV shows, and Prime Originals like “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” “Jack Ryan,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “The Boys,” and more. Subscribers can also add third-party services like Max, Showtime, STARZ, and dozens more with Prime Video Channels. Prime Video also offers exclusive live access to NFL Thursday Night Football.
What is ‘Bait’ about?
“Bait” centers on Shah Latif, played by Riz Ahmed, a struggling actor who is not exactly lighting up the industry. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, Ahmed finds himself maybe in the running to replace Daniel Craig as the next James Bond. This should be the moment everything changes. Instead, it kind of breaks him. Over four increasingly chaotic days, Shah spirals into a full-blown existential crisis as his family, his ex-lover, and basically the entire world start weighing in on whether he’s actually the right guy for the job.
The show is billed as a comedy, but it’s clear that underneath, this is about ambition, identity, insecurity, and what happens when the thing you’ve wanted your whole life is finally within reach, and you’re not even sure you want it anymore. It sounds funny on the surface, and I’m sure there are big comedic swings, but it also feels unnerving in that very Riz Ahmed way where you’re not sure if you should laugh or brace yourself.
Who stars in ‘Bait’?
Riz Ahmed leads the series as Shah Latif, and honestly, this feels like the kind of role that could let him flex every muscle. Guz Khan plays Zulfi, Sheeba Chaddha plays Tahira, Sajid Hasan plays Parvez, Aasiya Shah plays Q, Weruche Opia plays Felicia, and Ritu Arya plays Yasmin. It’s a stacked ensemble around him, which makes sense since the whole premise revolves around the people in Shah’s orbit reacting to his potential big break.
Who is making ‘Bait’?
This one’s very personal to Riz. He created, wrote, and executive-produced the series, which makes it even more intriguing. Ben Karlin executive produces and serves as showrunner alongside Ahmed, and the series is produced by Jax Media and Amazon MGM Studios. Riz has described the project as personal and bold, and honestly, when an actor of his caliber decides to build something from the ground up, I’m always curious to see what that looks like.
Is there a trailer for ‘Bait’?
Not yet. Prime Video has released first-look images and a preview clip, but there’s no full official trailer at the moment. As soon as one drops, we’ll add it here. With a March 25 premiere date locked in, it shouldn’t be too long before we get one.
Excited to see Riz Ahmed return to TV in ‘Bait’? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Bait
Shah Latif is a struggling actor on the cusp of landing the role of a lifetime, only to find himself thrust into a full blown existential crisis and trippy conspiracy thriller all at the same time.