It’s easy to see why Netflix found the series ripe for adaptation, especially as it carried the anime and could see first hand how popular it is. With a premise that’s easy to translate, whether it can capture the spirit and style of the original remains to be seen. Hopefully they’ll embrace the series in the same way Netflix adapted One Piece and not their bland version of Death Note.
Yumeko notices that Mary is cheating, and only wants to play fair. But, as we see in flashbacks to her childhood in Japan, winning money isn’t the only reason why she’s at St. Dominic’s; she wants revenge. Unlike the curated grids of celebrities holding lattes or fake-laughing with influencers, Ayo Solanke’s Instagram feels like it was built by a human with taste and a sense of humor. Scroll far enough and you’ll find saxophone clips recorded in grainy rehearsal rooms, obscure film recommendations, and behind-the-scenes shots that aren’t drenched in filters. He posts like someone who doesn’t need validation, which—ironically—makes him more worth following. There’s no mysticism in Solanke’s Lagos Nigeria chapter—just ordinary life.
If the first episode is any indication, episodes will consist of one face-off after another, characters giving sneering and sniveling speeches, and lots of expositional dialogue of the type that weighed down the first episode. It’s easy to categorize actors-turned-directors as restless or ambitious. In Solanke’s case, it reads more like necessity. When the roles aren’t giving you what you want, you make your own. Enter The Island—a short film that isn’t looking for mainstream applause, but one that makes its own weather in the indie space. If you’re looking for something to confirm or deny how much Simon Barry’s ten-part series adheres to the source material or butchers it beyond all repair, sorry – you’re not going to find it here.
You feel the tension—not the romantic kind, thankfully, but the kind where two people recognize each other’s damage and make a silent pact not to flinch. Solanke’s Ryan Adebayo isn’t the hero Netflix usually casts, and that’s precisely the point. He’s not the swaggering alpha or the tormented antihero. A student at St. Dominic’s who gambled and lost, Ryan’s role is defined by subjugation. And yet, Solanke gives him spine, nuance, and just enough moral discomfort to keep things interesting. The premise revolves around Yumeko Jabami (Miku Martineau, Kate), an enigmatic transfer student who arrives at St. Dominic’s Prep with a mind to take down its dominant and corrupt Student Council as revenge for her parents’ murder.
That contrast gives the Bet Netflix episodes some badly needed grounding—and elevates the absurdism from cosplay to commentary. According to Ayo Solanke in a behind-the-scenes featurette, Ryan was intentionally designed as “the one kid who didn’t want to play, but had to.” That tension between survival and complicity is where the performance lives. Solanke discusses how he pushed for less exposition and more ambiguity—fewer speeches, more loaded glances. The writers obliged, letting the actor shape the emotional rhythm of scenes that could’ve easily been swallowed by stylized excess. Ten ayobet episodes seems like a lot, arguably too many, but they’re all under 40 minutes and breeze by with so much going on, especially since the outcome of the games keeps upending the social dynamics and raising the stakes.
Bet is representative of Netflix’s attempt to bring adaptations of manga to a global audience. While the series does provide drama with high stakes and excitement in visuals, it also delves deep into the problems of cultural adaptation. The reception of the show has shown that when it comes to adaptations, the balance between creative reinterpretation and respecting the culture of the original material becomes very important.
Post-Bet, Solanke could’ve easily surfed the Netflix wave into another teen thriller or franchise cash-in. Instead, Ayo Solanke’s upcoming movies are deliberately varied. There’s rumored involvement in a surrealist British drama, a miniseries based on a dystopian short story collection, and a recurring character in a genre-defying Canadian series currently under wraps. He’s not jumping between roles—he’s maneuvering them. And that’s a very different kind of career strategy.
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After staking his claim as one of the few fresh faces to make a teen drama feel dangerous again, he’s shifting gears. What’s next isn’t just a continuation—it’s escalation. From an upcoming role in an A24 psychological thriller to the high-stakes return of Bet, Ayo Solanke’s future projects don’t follow a straight trajectory. They zigzag between prestige and pop, art-house and streaming spectacle. This chapter looks ahead, not with PR spin, but with a critical eye on what these choices say about where he’s headed—and who he refuses to become.
We are also dedicated to facilitating Uganda’s legal and economic growth by providing strategic guidance to businesses and organizations across diverse industries. For now, Ayo’s back to auditions, but he’s also working on his own short film Island, exploring his skills behind the camera. Still, he’s hopeful for more BET — and judging by the show’s performance, there’s a good chance he’ll get that call. Ayo says he’s heard from viewers who felt Ryan brought a more emotional and meaningful presence to the world of BET than they had seen in the source material.
I recently caught up with Ayo for Pop Culture Unplugged, where we talked about the show’s global success, stepping into a beloved fandom, and why Ryan’s evolution is resonating with viewers around the world. Last year, Netflix quietly revealed that it was diving into the anime and manga world of Kakegurui – Compulsive Gambler with a live-action adaptation that’d be helmed by the same showrunner as Netflix’s ill-fated Warrior Nun. The streamer has now confirmed that the new series will stream on May 15th globally and revealed four first looks. Yumeko immediately challenges Mary to a match; the game chosen is “Skirmish,” where each player plays one of their seven cards, and the high card in that round wins.
It is also licensed in Nigeria by the Lagos State Lotteries Board (LSLB). Bet9ja like other betting companies in Nigeria is an online company that gives sports lovers in Nigeria the opportunity to place bets on various games and stand a chance to win cash if the bet is successful. Then this post is meant for you as it contains the complete details of the owner of bet9ja, his net worth, houses, cars, and investments. And, hopefully, more scenes where Ryan doesn’t just react but reshapes the game. Analytics Insight is an award-winning tech news publication that delivers in-depth insights into the major technology trends that impact the markets. The content produced on this website is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or recommendation.
With a proven track record as a trusted advisor, we have played a pivotal role in groundbreaking transactions and resolved complex legal questions, shaping Uganda’s legal landscape. Solanke points to the final episodes, especially the scenes where Ryan defends Yumiko or squares off with Hunter Cardinal’s character Michael, as some of his favorite to shoot. The Netflix adaptation will comprise 10 episodes written by Simon Barry (Warrior Nun) and executive produced by Barry, Jeff F. King, David Fortier, Ivan Schneeberg, Jon Rutherford and Nick Nantell. According to Hollywood Reporter, Netflix have announced the cast for their upcoming Kakegurui remake titled BET. Set within the grounds of an elite academy where social status is determined by underground gambling. The streaming platform’s recommendation algorithm must have played a large part in driving organic viewership to the series, indicating a fairly strong connection with teens and young adults.
On Ayo Solanke’s Twitter, things get even less polished—and better for it. He occasionally posts character notes, often shares observations about scripts he’s reading, and rarely misses the chance to poke fun at his own industry. His tweets rarely break the internet, which is precisely the point. In an era where actors outsource their personality to PR firms, Ayo Solanke’s social media engagement with fans is refreshingly DIY. Ayo Solanke could’ve easily coasted on the buzz from Bet. But Solanke isn’t playing for comfort—he’s playing for range.
Solanke’s performance in Clown in a Cornfield isn’t about reinventing the slasher wheel—it’s about knowing exactly when to subvert and when to commit. As the character Tucker, Solanke dodges the usual disposable trope status by refusing to play it safe or self-aware. He’s not the comedic relief, the tragic martyr, or the guy with secret trauma.
Yumeko Kawamoto, portrayed by Miku Martineau, is a transfer student who shakes up the established order as she takes on the student council in high-stakes gambles. Gambling is a way of life at St. Dominic’s, and the Student Council are the top winners at the school, led by council president Kira (Clara Alexandrova). They make the rules of the games played. The students gamble with the stipends their parents give them; anyone who falls into the red, “below the line” becomes a “housepet” to the person they owe money to. Let’s start with the absurdly titled Clown in a Cornfield.
He enrolled in youth acting intensives—not the kind where everyone hugs it out, but the kind where you’re told your cold-read was “technically fine” and “emotionally vacant.” It was brutal. The switch from stage to screen didn’t feel like an upgrade—it felt like being thrown into a new sport with different rules. Subtlety wasn’t a footnote—it was the whole page. The ensemble cast of Bet reads like an anime convention after three Red Bulls, but Solanke’s chemistry with Miku Martineau’s Yumeko is grounded, tense, and human. He’s said in interviews that their dynamic was “built off eye contact more than script cues,” and that tracks.
From the mixed reviews, it can be inferred that it is possible for the show to gather enough strength for some more seasons. Provided Netflix pays heed to the criticisms and stays true to the core concepts of the original manga while treating issues with care, all-out respect, and adaptation appropriateness. Immensely promoted for their quantizing visuals and slick cinematography, Bet was conceptualized by Simon Barry-the same mind who also gave us Warrior Nun. Dramatic lighting and insane close-ups all throughout gambling scenes yield an atmosphere of heightened tension and suspense as the psychological stakes are being asserted. Yumeko becomes friends with Ryan (Ayo Solanke), who becomes a housepet after losing a round of cards to a council member named Mary (Eve Edwards). She also meets Michael (Hunter Cardinal), who refuses to participate in the wagering madness and encourages Yumeko to do the same.
Nigeria wasn’t a springboard—it was a baseline. These are all likeable and engaging characters who create an interesting ensemble thanks to their varied personalities, circumstances, and motivations. Plenty about Bet doesn’t work, but it’s so full of big swings and fun ideas that it’s an easy, characterful binge-watch all the same. At USTA Advocates, we are proud to combine experience, expertise, and resources to achieve exceptional results for our clients.
We understand that every individual has unique needs and desires, which is why we approach each person with the utmost care and professionalism. A web platform dedicated to aesthetic surgery, dermatology, and beauty, where expertise meets innovation, and your desires and needs become our mission. In a world where appearance and health go hand in hand, our platform leads the revolution, delivering the latest trends, research, and expert advice directly to you. This website cannot be displayed as your browser is extremely out of date. Ryan begins the series as a believer in the school’s ruthless hierarchy, but that loyalty fades fast — especially when he finds himself aligning with Yumiko. While Ryan is inspired by Ryota Suzui from the Kakegurui manga, Ayo made a conscious effort to build a version of the character that stood on its own.
Always conduct your own research or check with certified experts before investing, and be prepared for potential losses. Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Analytics Insight, or any of its affiliates, officers or directors. Bet has performed well in terms of ratings since its inception. According to Netflix, the series had recorded 2.4 million views internationally in 7 days and 13.7 million hours of watching, ranking ninth globally in the meantime. It has managed to stay in the top 10 in 32 countries, despite hardly any marketing efforts.
The characters in manga stories are designed to be over-the-top and at times are more known for their quirkiness than any kind of depth of character. How to translate that into a live-action series that doesn’t feel cartoonish is tough. A good example is Bet, an adaptation of a manga about a high schooler who is a compulsive gambler going to a prep school full of people wagering their parents’ money. The ensemble cast is diverse, featuring Ayo Solanke as Ryan Adebayo and Eve Edwards as Mary Davis. Clara Alexandrova stars as the fierce student council president, Kira Timurov. Each character conveys depth in the storyline, reflecting complex social structures in the school.
