Sir Patrick Stewart, widely celebrated for his iconic portrayal of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, was also known for embracing comedic roles that defied expectations. Following his passing, co-star LeVar Burton highlighted Stewart's hidden silliness, noting the actor's willingness to accept parts that might seem uncharacteristic for a thespian of his stature. While Stewart had previously delivered notable comedic performances on shows like Frasier, The Simpsons, and Extras, his work in Prime Video's 2026 series Bait marked a venture into darker and more unusual territory.
In Bait, which stars Riz Ahmed as Shah Latif, a struggling British Pakistani actor facing an existential crisis after auditioning for the next James Bond film, Stewart provided the voice for a severed pig's head. The character, dubbed "Pigtrick," speaks to Ahmed's protagonist and serves as a manifestation of Shah's self-doubt regarding his desire for status and respect in an industry where such roles are often out of reach for actors of color. The narrative follows Shah over four chaotic days after he intentionally leaks his audition exit to the paparazzi, leading to internet backlash and a hate crime involving the pig's head thrown through his parents' window.
The series initially misleads the audience into believing Shah is being interviewed by Stewart, only to reveal that he is conversing with the head in a freezer. As hallucinations persist, Shah carries Pigtrick in a bag around town. Ahmed revealed in an interview with GQ that Stewart accepted this unique role because he had never read anything quite like it before. This project stands as one of the late actor's final television appearances, demonstrating his continued commitment to taking creative risks until the end of his career.
Sources: TVLine.