Riz Ahmed Jokes About Bond Audition and Jacob Elordi Rumor in Interview

During a promotional interview for his new series Bait, actor Riz Ahmed staged a lighthearted ‘walkout’ after a joke about the James Bond casting process. The moment occurred when interviewer remarks about rumored frontrunner Jacob Elordi prompted a humorous exchange between Ahmed and his co-star, Guz Khan.

In the interview for Variety, Ahmed suggested his new show, which centers on a struggling actor’s viral Bond audition, should serve as his own audition to play 007. Ahmed stated, “Everyone has an audition for Bond. Daniel Craig’s was ‘Layer Cake’… This is my audition for Bond.”

The On-Screen “Walkout”

When the interviewer noted Jacob Elordi’s rising status among Bond hopefuls, Ahmed playfully insisted, “I don’t mind who plays James Bond as long as it is me.” Co-star Guz Khan immediately quipped, “You know, the more interviews we do, the more I’m convinced it’s absolutely not gonna be you.” Khan then turned to the interviewer, adding, “You said Jacob Elordi?… it’s likely that he’s gonna be James Bond over Riz Ahmed.” At this point, Ahmed stood up and briefly left the room before returning to continue the conversation.

The Wider James Bond Casting Picture

The article underscores that casting speculation is rampant, with many names appearing on rumored shortlists. Aside from Elordi, other actors reportedly in the running include:

• Callum Turner
• Jack Lowden
• James Norton
• Harris Dickinson
• Theo James

The report clarifies that official casting is not expected to begin until a script is finalized and director Denis Villeneuve determines the specific requirements for the next actor. This means the rumor mill will likely continue for several more months.

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