Riz Ahmed Unveils Release Date for Highly Anticipated Prime Video Series Bait

Riz Ahmed fans, you might want to mark your calendars way, way in advance: Amazon just dropped the first peek at their new comedy series 'Bait', with Ahmed in the lead. It won't hit Prime Video until March 25, 2026 (yeah, 2026—no typo), but at least we finally know when to expect it. Plus, we got some details on the cast, the plot, and creative team, so let's break down what's coming.

Premise: Riz Ahmed Goes Full Meta

Here's the setup: Ahmed plays Shah Latif, a struggling actor who's basically clinging to his last shot at making it big. In classic farcical fashion, Shah gets hit with the audition of a lifetime—think high stakes, dreams-crushing-if-he-blows-it territory. The story tracks him over just four days, but those days apparently contain enough chaos to last a lifetime. Family drama, an ex-lover, and what sounds like just about everyone else he knows all decide to chime in about whether he's really the guy for the job.

If that sounds a little wild, it gets better: in the first-look clip Amazon released, Shah is caught in rumors that he might be the next James Bond. Not a bad rumor to have, but also not exactly the kind of pressure you want right before an audition that could make or break your career.

'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 Cast: Some Familiar Names, Some Surprises

• Riz Ahmed as Shah Latif (the guy in the hot seat)
• Guz Khan as Zulfi
• Sheeba Chaddha as Tahira
• Sajid Hasan as Parvez
• Aasiya Shah as Q
• Weruche Opia as Felicia
• Ritu Arya as Yasmin

So, a pretty stacked and global cast—especially if you know your British TV.

Who's Running the Show?

Ahmed isn't just starring here—he's also the creator and lead writer. He's joined by Allie Moore, Jake Fuller, Ben Karlin (you might know him from 'The Daily Show'), and himself on executive producing duties. As for directing, it's split between Bassam Tariq (he directed 'Mogul Mowgli' and was briefly tied to Marvel's next 'Blade') and Tom George ('See How They Run'). Ahmed and Karlin are co-showrunners, so the tone should stay sharp and (hopefully) unpredictable.

Big Wait, Big Expectations

Honestly, it's a little odd to see a comedy series announced almost two years ahead of release—even for a streamer like Amazon. Either they're really hyped about the project, or there's a lot of post-production on the horizon (or both). Still, with Ahmed front and center, and a pitch that makes fun of both fame and showbiz pressure, there's a good chance 'Bait' stands out from the usual streaming comedy crop—assuming it doesn't get swallowed by the endless tide of TV between now and 2026.