Prime Video’s Bait Debuts to Perfect Rotten Tomatoes Score

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James Bond’s future is with Amazon, though the specifics of the next film remain secret. In the meantime, Prime Video is offering a clever take on the Bond formula with its new series.

While Amazon hasn’t officially announced the next James Bond, Riz Ahmed is playing the iconic 007 agent in the new series Bait. The show premieres on March 25th, and early reviews are incredibly positive – it currently has a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The show currently has a rating based on just six reviews, so it’s expected to change as more people share their thoughts. Despite this, the initial feedback is very positive and suggests a strong start. Because the series hasn’t launched yet, there’s no overall audience score available.

How Is James Bond Connected to Bait?

This new comedy centers around Shah Latif, an actor desperately trying to make it big. His luck changes when he lands an audition for the iconic role of James Bond. The series hilariously chronicles the next four days of his life as he navigates the chaos of newfound attention, with his family, a former partner, and the world offering their opinions on whether he’s the right fit for 007.

Ahmed wrote and created the comedy series, which features 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 an executive producer and showrunner, working alongside Ahmed, who also executive produces with Alfie Moore and Jake Fuller.

The show generated a lot of buzz, and actor Ahmed expressed his interest in potentially becoming the next James Bond. He jokingly called his performance an ‘audition’ for the role, confidently stating that anyone who watches the series will agree he’s a strong contender.

He continued, “I don’t mind as long as it is me.”

The actor clarified that the show isn’t actually about James Bond. Instead, Bond represents an ideal – the ultimate confident man – that his character aspires to be. He explained that the character’s desire to be someone else is something many people can connect with, making it the most relatable aspect of the story.

What Are Critics Saying About Bait?

Abe Friedtanzer of Awards Buzz praised the film Bait, noting that it’s refreshing to see Riz Ahmed, known for his recent dramatic roles, return to comedy. He described the movie as more substantial than Four Lions while still maintaining a sense of humor.

Kaiya Shunyata of RogerEbert.com described Bait as a captivating exploration of the mental toll acting takes on performers, both during and outside of filming. She also praised it as one of the year’s most hilarious and energetic shows.

In a review for The Hollywood Reporter, Daniel Fienberg compared the series to a Disney+ superhero show, noting that the protagonist’s ambition to star in a big-budget film actually represents his past trauma and his longing for acceptance. He found the series more compelling and admirable than truly ‘great,’ but believes it has the potential to be something special.

All six episodes of Bait premiere on Prime Video on Mar. 25.

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2026-03-20 20:42