Netflix Announces ‘Bet’, A Live-Action And Race-Swapped Adaptation Of Japanese Manga ‘Kakegurui – Compulsive Gambler’
In apparent proof that their respectful handling of One Piece was more of a fluke than their new standard, Netflix has given the green-light to a live-action, race-swapped miniseries adaptation of the popular Japanese gambling manga Kakegurui – Compulsive Gambler.
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Written by Homura Kawamoto and illustrated by Tōru Naomura, Kakegurui centers on the prestigious Hyakkaou Private Academy, an elite Japanese high school whose social hierarchy is determined not by students’ talents or achievements, but rather their successes in the Student Council’s underground gambling ring.
Enter Yumeko Jabami, a transfer student with a knack for strategy and a compulsion to ‘chase the thrills’ that gambling has to offer.
Throwing herself into the school’s secret past time, a string of victories results in Yumeko drawing the ire of the Student Council themselves, all of whom all of whom find themselves growing uneasy with the potential threat the raven-haired high-roller presents to their status.
Seeking to preserve their seats of power, the Student Council respond to Yumeko’s arrival by agreeing to make a concerted and collective effort (and often dishonest) effort to keep her under their heel. Unfortunately for them, they soon discover that not only is Yumeko an amazing gambler, she’s also not one to take such personal slights lying down.
A fan-favorite series, Kakegurui has been translated into an anime, a live-action TV drama, and a pair of live-action films (all of which have been produced in Japan).
And now, thanks to Netflix, the manga will be able to add ‘live-action Western TV series’ to its history of adaptations.
Per a May 30th exclusive from The Hollywood Reporter’s Etan Vlessing, a ten-episode live-action TV adaptation of Kakeguri, which rather than bearing the series’ original name will instead be titled Bet, is now in development at Netflix.
Helmed by Warrior Nun showrunner Simon Barry and Canadian production studio Boat Rocker Media, Bet will star Miku Martineau (Kate (2021)), Ayo Solanke (Almost Unsolved (2023)), Eve Edwards (The Boarding School Murders), Clara Alexandrova (A Million Little Things), Hunter Cardinal (A Raven’s Song), Anwen O’Driscoll (You Can Live Forever), Aviva Mongillo (1up) and Ryan Sutherland (Date for Cy).
As of writing, Netflix has yet to confirm which role each respective actor will be portraying.
However, it is currently assumed that the Japanese Martineau will play Yumeko, while the African-American Solanke and Edwards will will respectively star as race-swapped versions of Yumeko’s gambling partner Mary Saotome and their unlucky friend Ryota Suzui.
Production on Bet is currently underway in Tortono.
Meanwhile, Kakegurui‘s aforementioned creators, Kawamoto and Naomura, have yet to offer public comment on this latest adaptation of their work.
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