Riz Ahmed, the Oscar-nominated actor, is making waves with his latest project, a comedy series titled 'Bait'. In it, he plays a struggling London actor who finds himself in an existential crisis after his audition for the iconic role of James Bond goes viral. The series delves into the audition process and the public's obsession with validation, but Ahmed's heart remains set on becoming Bond himself.
During a Sundance interview, Ahmed shared his thoughts on the audition process and the public's desire for validation. He noted, 'Life feels like one big audition, where we all strive to prove ourselves online and seek approval from strangers.' This inspiration fueled his desire to create a show that explores these themes.
However, Ahmed's focus on Bond is not just a coincidence. The 007 franchise is undergoing a reboot, and Amazon, the studio behind 'Bait', is involved. The actor humorously stated, 'Everyone has an audition for Bond. Daniel Craig's was 'Layer Cake'... This is my audition for Bond. I dare anyone to watch this show and think we shouldn't play Bond.'
The new Bond movie, directed by Denis Villeneuve, will be the first in the franchise after Daniel Craig's era. While the actor playing Bond has not been announced, there's a buzz around 'Euphoria' star Jacob Elordi. When informed of this rumor, Ahmed playfully stormed off, but he later emphasized that the show is not about Bond. Instead, it's about his character's desire to be someone else, a relatable struggle for many.
'Bait' will be available to stream on Prime Video starting March 25th.
