Trending Now - Riz Ahmed Shines in Ambitious yet Flawed Comedy 'bait

WHO:

Riz Ahmed, British Pakistani Muslim actor, creator, and writer of the miniseries "Bait"

Patrick Stewart, voice of a pig's head in "Bait"

Guz Khan, actor playing Shah's cousin Zulfi

Sheeba Chaddha, actress playing Shah's mother Tahira

Ritu Arya, actress playing Shah's ex-girlfriend Yasmin

Himesh Patel, actor also up for the role of Bond

Nabhaan Rizwan, actor playing a family friend

WHAT:

"Bait" is a six-episode miniseries on Prime Video created, written, and starred in by Riz Ahmed.

The series explores themes of representation and identity in the context of a South Asian, British, and Muslim actor.

The character Shah Latif, played by Ahmed, is a struggling actor aiming for a role as James Bond.

The series includes various genres such as farce, satire, thriller, family drama, and romantic comedy.

The series features a running gag about Shah being mistaken for the more famous actor Dev Patel.

WHERE:

The series is set in London, England.

WHEN:

The series "Bait" was released in 2026.

In 2017, Riz Ahmed delivered a speech to the British House of Commons about diversity in storytelling.

In 2022, a study by the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative found that Muslims are “rendered invisible” onscreen.

WHY:

The series interrogates the costs of representation for minority actors in the entertainment industry.

Ahmed's work aims to address the slow and incremental progress of representation for South Asian, Middle Eastern, North African, and Muslim actors.

HOW:

The series uses humor and absurdity, such as a pig's head acting as a therapist for the main character, to explore complex themes of identity and representation.

(UPDATED March 26, 2026 03:54 UTC)

Riz Ahmed has created and stars in a new six-episode miniseries titled "Bait," which explores themes of representation and identity through the story of Shah Latif, a struggling actor in London who aspires to play James Bond. The series, which features a talented cast including Patrick Stewart, Guz Khan, and Sheeba Chaddha, blends genres like farce, satire, and family drama, while humorously addressing the challenges faced by minority actors in the entertainment industry. Notably, the show includes a running gag about Shah being mistaken for the more famous actor Dev Patel, and it uses absurd elements, such as a pig's head acting as a therapist, to tackle these complex issues.