*Bait* might be a satire on the casting process for the next James Bond, but honestly, I believe Riz Ahmed should be the next 007. James Bond is considered an icon of British cinema. Everyone has their favorite Bond. For a long time, I thought Sean Connery was the best, but then Daniel Craig arrived and eclipsed everyone so thoroughly that I had to place him at the top of the list. However, as the Craig era drew to a close, conversations began regarding the next Bond. And—in an effort to really shake things up—debates arose regarding the possibility of casting someone with a little melanin in their skin. Ignoring the racists, both franchise fans and cinephiles seemed to agree, in a way, that Idris Elba was a solid choice.
Then the Sony hack happened (true fans remember it), and it was revealed that the producers were, in fact, considering granting Elba the "license to kill." Nevertheless, for some reason—given that this casting choice leaked via the hack rather than being officially announced—they decided not to move forward with the idea and brought back a reluctant Craig to close out his Bond’s narrative arc. Against this backdrop, the search for the next Bond began.
Creator: Riz Ahmed
Stars: Riz Ahmed, Guz Khan, Aasiya Shah
Now, between the end of the Connery era and the start of Roger Moore’s, there was a two-year gap; between Moore and Dalton, there was also a two-year pause; between Dalton and Pierce Brosnan, six years passed; and between Brosnan and Craig, four years. Craig’s final film was released in 2021, and although we now have a director for the next Bond adventure (Denis Villeneuve), it seemed the producers weren't even close to choosing anyone... until Riz entered the scene with *Bait*. *Bait*—the work of Riz Ahmed and Ben Karlin, with episodes directed by Bassam Tariq and Tom George—tells the story of Shah Latif, an up-and-coming artist auditioning for the coveted role of James Bond.
He fits the physical profile, and his diction is impeccable; however, when it comes time to deliver a specific line regarding Bond’s identity crisis, he flubs it. But all of this happens behind closed doors; to rumor-mongers and paparazzi, Shah is the new 007, and photos of him leaving the studio where the casting process is taking place begin to spread across the internet like wildfire. Shah’s mother, Tahira; his father, Parvez; and his siblings—Zulfiq and Q (yes, it’s a Bond joke)—experience varying degrees of excitement. Shah’s agent, Felicia, remains optimistic, as the producers are willing to give him a second chance to audition for the role.
Shah himself feels that his life is, at long last, taking a turn for the better. But then, the hate train begins to bear down on him relentlessly. He tentatively ventures into the world of social media, where he notices all the racist vitriol he is receiving simply for being considered for the role. His ex-girlfriend, Yasmin, pens a scathing op-ed arguing that the world doesn’t need a brown-skinned Bond. And, almost immediately afterward, someone throws a pig’s head into his family’s home—you know, because he is Muslim and of Pakistani descent. Shah struggles valiantly to cope with the situation and maintain his focus leading up to the second-round audition, but with every passing minute, this golden opportunity slips further through his fingers. Whether Shah will manage to stay afloat or sink is what constitutes the narrative core of *Bait*.
The script for *Bait* masterfully blurs the line between Shah Latif and Riz Ahmed. The work adopts the model established by films such as *Nayak* (by Satyajit Ray), *Fan* (starring Shah Rukh Khan), *The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent*, and *Jay Kelly*—in which stars play a version of themselves to confront their own real-life stardom—and gives it a radical twist. For in this case, Riz—or Shah—does not confront stardom itself, but rather the phase preceding it.
Riz has explored practically every existing genre; he has starred in major franchise films; he has worked on independent productions; and he has demonstrated, time and again, that being popular does not entail having to dilute one’s political convictions or becoming a blank canvas devoid of distinctive traits—even if doing so means sacrificing professional opportunities. Through Shah, Riz and his team of writers show us what it entails to maintain such a stance when one faces intolerance, financial struggles, familial and religious pressures, and a heavy dose of imposter syndrome.
Through *Bait*, the showrunners dissect the reactionary culture we have cultivated regarding actor selection—or casting—especially when it concerns an iconic character like James Bond. By now, we all understand the impact that racism and bigotry have on an individual. We have long characterized these discriminatory individuals as idiots—oblivious to how they contribute to the pain and suffering their victims are already enduring. However, the writers make it abundantly clear that this is absolutely not the case; bigots are fully aware of the immense pressure artists from racial minorities (POC) face, and they deliberately pile onto that pressure simply to watch them suffer in 4K HD. They know that no matter how adamantly someone claims that hate—whether online or off—doesn't affect them, it eventually cuts deep and derails their plans.
Yet, rather than allowing this to take a toll on his professional or personal life, Riz and his team pose a question: "What if we turn it into a weapon?" Regardless of how gritty and visceral the character of James Bond may become, as long as he is portrayed by a white man, his representation will remain merely performative. That said, a man of color—who has overcome obstacles and challenges that James Bond, or any white man, could never even dream of facing—would infuse his own lived experience into 007’s journey, thereby helping the character "level up." After all, the United Kingdom is no longer an exclusively white nation; so why should Bond remain a relic of a bygone era? If British society has become more racially diverse, Bond ought to reflect that shift as well—otherwise, he risks fading into irrelevance.
From a narrative standpoint, *Bait* unfolds with great agility, yet never at the cost of diluting the intensity of its emotional moments. It moves at a very brisk pace, with episodes clocking in at around 20 minutes; however, when the moment calls for seriousness, Tariq and George always slow things down to allow the viewer to fully absorb the emotion and complexity emanating from both the plot and the characters. There is also a healthy dose of action, executed with great skill. The cinematography and editing are splendid—a truly tactile and dynamic visual experience. The performances from the entire cast are, without a doubt, the series' greatest highlight. Sheeba Chaddha, Sajid Hasan, Guz Khan, Aasiya Shah, Soni Razdan, and Ritu Arya are truly excellent. The cameos by Himesh Patel, Rafe Spall, Maxine Peake, Sian Clifford, and (spoiler alert!) Patrick Stewart are fantastic. And then there’s my guy: Riz Ahmed.
Look, the series treats the idea of casting someone who looks like Riz as the next James Bond somewhat tongue-in-cheek—with a certain ironic wink. It feels as though Amazon and MGM (the rights holders for 007) are testing the waters to see if the public will take the bait (hence the series' title) and give their seal of approval to a Bond of South Asian descent—a "Brown Bond." However, for someone who has long included Riz Ahmed (and even Dev Patel, who is explicitly mentioned in the series) on their personal wishlist—or "fancast"—for the next Bond, this was a very serious matter. As I’ve mentioned before, Riz has literally done it all.
Name a genre; he’s tackled it. And across these six episodes, he proves once again that he is one of the very best in the business. I know that, given his involvement in this series, it is impossible for him to end up appearing in the Bond film directed by Denis Villeneuve. At the same time, if it turns out that Riz is the chosen one to be the next Bond, I assure you that I will be his loudest and most enthusiastic supporter. Anyway, go watch *Bait* so that—even if Riz doesn't end up becoming a *real* Bond—he can at least continue playing Bond—in the guise of Shah Latif—in a second season of the series.
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