The creators of Prime Video’s limited series “Bait,” which portrays a British-Pakistani actor auditioning for the role of James Bond while facing public and familial backlash, gathered for a panel discussion at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles. This event offered viewers an insight into the show’s development.
Joining the star Riz Ahmed were co-showrunner Ben Carlin, producer Allie Moore, director Bassam Tariq, and music supervisor Kira Elwis. The conversation was moderated by film director Daniel Kwan.
Ahmed shared that the show’s concept was initially not centered on James Bond. The idea stemmed from his experiences after working on “Rogue One” and “The Night Of.”
Ahmed expressed feeling a disconnect between public perception and his real life, noting how people envisioned him “on a yacht with Han Solo,” while he was actually “walking around in flip-flops and cycle shorts.” He humorously mentioned being “banned from Tescos for being a suspected shoplifter the same week ‘Star Wars’ comes out.”
Ahmed recalled someone telling him, “distance is the amount of shame that you carry,” which led him to consider, “I need to get therapy or make a TV show about it.”
Carlin introduced the Bond angle, suggesting the show needed “one focal point, vessel or symbol to tell this story.” He explained that the focus was on the protagonist’s internal struggles rather than external reactions.
The team discussed experimenting with the show’s tone. Ahmed noted that as the protagonist faces an identity crisis, the series also reflects this, with episodes ranging in style from “a Bollywood soap opera” to “a Linklater ‘Before Sunrise’ walk-and-talk.”
Moore emphasized the importance of “character and tone” as guiding principles, while Tariq highlighted the challenge of balancing absurdity and emotional realism. Regarding a dramatic Bollywood-esque sequence, he aimed for genuine emotional impact, ensuring it didn’t feel cliché.
Music was crucial in defining the show’s identity. Elwis delved into classic Pakistani and Bollywood soundtracks and also featured contemporary underground artists.
Ahmed incorporated personal experiences into the show, stating, “Being Muslim in the West feels like you’re stuck in a spy thriller.” The series used Bond imagery and surveillance themes to convey “the paranoia, the surveillance, the sense of being looked at but not really seen.”
The panel concluded with Ahmed reflecting on the Texas screening, where audiences felt represented on-screen. He remarked, “To be able to recognize yourself in the stranger is the purpose of story.”
