Audible and Amazon MGM Studios Take Over Sundance With ‘Bait’ Celebration, Plus Chris Pine, Olivia Colman, Peter Dinklage and More at Variety Studio
Photos by Zach Hetrick for Audible
Sundance’s busiest room wasn’t a screening — it was Audible’s Variety Interview Studio, where ‘Bait’ got the spotlight and the festival’s biggest names came to talk craft, chaos, and what’s next.
Sundance is built on premieres, buzz, and the kind of conversations that turn a title into a must-see. This week, Audible and Amazon MGM Studios delivered all three — hosting a celebration for Prime Video’s upcoming comedy series ‘Bait’ with stars Riz Ahmed and Guz Khan, while also welcoming an A-list parade through the Variety Interview Studio presented by Audible.
The “Bait” preview and celebration leaned into exactly what Sundance does best: putting the creative process front and center. With Audible serving as the Sundance Film Festival’s official audio entertainment partner, the event included a conversation about how the series came together, the collaboration between Ahmed and Khan, and the behind-the-scenes choices shaping the show ahead of its March premiere.
And while the “Bait” moment was the headline, the Variety Interview Studio turned into a festival-wide magnet for talent — with Olivia Colman, Judd Apatow, Peter Dinklage, Dave Franco, Nicholas Braun, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Chris Pine, Jenny Slate, and more stopping by for interviews with host Reece Feldman.
The best Sundance activations don’t just create photo ops — they create quotes, momentum, and viral moments that carry through the weekend. Colman teased that ‘Wicker’ is one of the top three scripts she’s ever read, while Dinklage called it “nothing more original,” instantly turning the project into something to watch. O’Shea Jackson Jr. shared he felt honored when Dave Franco pushed for him to join ‘The Shitheads,’ saying the role was made for him. Nicholas Braun kept it perfectly Sundance-weird, declaring he wants Obama to narrate the audiobook of his life. Meanwhile, ‘Carousel’ stars Pine and Slate bonded over their shared love of books, their admiration for the ‘Bleak House’ adaptation, and even joked about launching a book club podcast — which, frankly, would sell out subscriptions immediately.
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Audible’s presence isn’t slowing down either. The Audible Listening Lodge is open to the public throughout the festival, offering a warm reset in the middle of Park City chaos — complete with complimentary drinks, snacks, s’mores, and a cozy listening space built for anyone trying to catch their breath between screenings and premieres.
Festivalgoers can also look ahead to the next wave of programming at the lodge, including “Variety x Audible Cocktails & Conversations,” featuring a panel on storytelling for modern audiences with Daveed Diggs, Natasha Lyonne, Iliza Shlesinger, and Audible’s Marshall Lewy, moderated by Variety’s Brent Lang. The following night brings an in-conversation event for “The Space Within: Season 2,” featuring executive producer Jessica Chastain alongside Bobby Cannavale, Michael Stuhlbarg, Carmen Ejogo, and Audible’s Kate Navin, moderated by Variety’s Angelique Jackson.
New photos and footage from both the ‘Bait’ celebration and the Variety Interview Studio presented by Audible are now available — with more interviews, moments, and Sundance highlights expected daily as the festival rolls on in Park City.
View all the highlights below:
