Riz Ahmed Officially Addresses Being Cast as the New James Bond

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James Bond is a hugely famous spy, and many different actors have played him over time. Now, Riz Ahmed is also being considered for the role.

Riz Ahmed is starring in a new comedy series called Bait, coming to Prime Video in March after premiering at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. He jokingly revealed that he sees the show as his attempt to land the role of James Bond.

I’m a huge fan of Riz Ahmed, and it’s so cool to hear he’s potentially in the running to be the next James Bond! He’s incredibly talented – he was even nominated for an Oscar and won for his short film, The Long Goodbye, back in 2020. Now that Daniel Craig has finished playing 007, the Bond franchise has moved to Amazon MGM Studios, and it makes total sense they’d look at someone like Riz, especially since his new show is with them too!

The actor said his latest movie could be seen as both a tryout for the role of James Bond and a reflection on how life itself feels like a constant audition. He shared that he’d been journaling about the conflicting parts of his own experiences.

He explained that the idea came from the feeling that life often feels like a constant performance. We’re all striving to impress others online, seeking approval and validation from people we don’t even know. He wanted to create a show that delved into this experience.

Despite everything, he admitted he’s still interested in playing James Bond. He explained that every actor essentially ‘auditions’ for the role – Daniel Craig’s was the film Layer Cake. He believes this show proves he and the other actors would be perfect for the part, and challenges anyone to disagree after watching it.

Rumors are circulating that Jacob Elordi, known for his role in Euphoria and recently cast as the Monster, could be the next James Bond. As actor Ahmed jokingly put it, he doesn’t care who gets the role, as long as it’s him!

He explained that the show isn’t really about James Bond himself. Instead, Bond represents the ideal his character is striving for – that image of the ultimate confident man. It’s about wanting to be someone different, something many people can understand.

How Is Bait Connected to James Bond?

The new series Bait centers on Shah Latif (Ahmed), an actor desperate for his big break. He gets the audition of a lifetime – a chance to be the next James Bond. The show follows the chaotic four days that follow, as his personal life, including his family and an ex-lover, and public opinion all scrutinize whether he’s the right person for the role.

The show stars Guz Khan as Zulfi, Sheeba Chaddha as Tahira, Sajid Hasan as Parvez, Aasiya Shah as Q, Weruche Opia as Felicia, and Ritu Arya as Yasmin. Ben Karlin is the executive producer and showrunner, working alongside Ahmed, who also executive produces with Alfie Moore and Jake Fuller.

Bait premieres on Mar. 25 on Prime Video.

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2026-01-23 23:36