Riz Ahmed is set to make a significant return to television, both in front of and behind the camera, with a new comedy series on Amazon’s Prime Video. The untitled project, created by and starring Ahmed, will see the Oscar-winning actor play Shah Latif, a struggling actor on the verge of a breakthrough role. However, Latif’s journey takes an unexpected turn as he finds himself entangled in an existential crisis and a trippy conspiracy thriller simultaneously.
Ben Karlin, known for his work on “The Daily Show” and “Modern Family,” will co-showrun the eight-episode series alongside Ahmed. The series is being produced by Jax Media and Amazon MGM Studios, with Ahmed’s Left Handed banner, which has a first-look deal with Amazon, also involved in the production.
“I’ve wanted to tell this story for a long time,” Ahmed said in a statement. “It’s personal, bold, and a lot of fun. It feels so good to be writing and creating it now with this incredible team.”
Vernon Sanders, head of television for Amazon MGM Studios, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, “Riz Ahmed is a gifted writer, actor, and producer, and we have been energized by his passion. Led by Riz and the hilarious Ben Karlin, and guided by Rola Bauer’s Pan-English team, this series is sure to delight our global Prime Video customers and make them laugh.”
Ahmed’s accolades include an Oscar win in 2022 for best live-action short film for “The Long Goodbye” and a best actor nomination in 2021 for “Sound of Metal.” He also won an Emmy in 2017 for his lead role in HBO’s limited series “The Night Of.”
This new Prime Video series marks Ahmed’s first regular TV role since “The Night Of.” He has also had a recurring part on Netflix’s “The OA” and guest-starred on “Girls,” earning an Emmy nod for the latter. Upcoming projects for Ahmed include roles in Wes Anderson’s “The Phoenician Scheme” and a contemporary adaptation of “Hamlet,” where he plays the title role.
The Prime Video series will be executive produced by Ahmed and Allie Moore for Left Handed, along with Karlin, Jake Fuller of Jax Media, and Roopesh Parekh. The writing team includes Ahmed, Dipika Guha (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “Black Monday”), Prashanth Venkataramanujam (“Patriot Act”), Karen Joseph Adcock (“The Bear,” “Atlanta”), Azam Mahmood (“Industry,” “Ramy”), and novelist Fatima Farheen Mirza.
Ahmed’s return to television is highly anticipated, given his previous success and the unique premise of the new series. The combination of his creative vision and the comedic expertise of Karlin promises a show that will captivate and entertain audiences worldwide.
