In Netflix’s new high-stakes series BET, based loosely on the cult manga Kakegurui, Hunter Cardinal plays Mike — an enigmatic student who refuses to gamble, challenge authority, or play by anyone’s rules but his own. We sat down with Hunter on Pop Culture Unplugged to talk about how he landed the role, the emotional journey of Mike, and what he hopes fans discover through the series.
From “Just Another Audition” to a Lead Role
Hunter’s path to BET started with a self-tape and zero expectations.
“I sent the audition off and forgot about it,” he said. “A month later, I found out I’d been cast — no testing, no chemistry reads. Next thing I knew, I was in Toronto.”
Unlike most of the cast, his character’s name didn’t change during the secretive audition process.
“It was Mike from the beginning, and I think they kept it for simplicity’s sake. It’s the only thing I could remember!”
A Character Built for the Adaptation
Mike is a brand-new addition, not featured in the original manga.
“He was made up for the series, which I thought was perfect,” Hunter explained. “Mike is the outsider who refuses to gamble — and that makes him more dangerous than anyone playing the game.”
His character was described as “a rebel with a moral compass,” a phrase that sparked Hunter’s deep dive into the psyche of someone who deliberately stays out of a corrupt system.
A Rorschach Test of Morality
Is Mike a hero? A threat? A bystander?
“He’s someone who sees something, can’t unsee it, and now has to act. Whether people see him as good or bad, that’s going to depend on their own views. He’s like a Rorschach test.”
Hunter says Mike’s journey isn’t about winning or losing, but about resisting.
“It’s not about dominating the system — it’s about refusing to strengthen it.”
On-Set Collaboration and Creative Freedom
Working with creator Simon Barry and the BET team was an actor’s dream.
“Simon created an atmosphere of trust,” he said. “He let us show up with ideas, take risks, and bring our full selves to the characters. It was such a positive, collaborative energy.”
That environment helped Hunter dig deeper into Mike’s quiet intensity and moral resistance.
Inside the World of BET
The show combines stylized visuals, surreal storytelling, and ruthless games.
“You’ve got mind games, rich aesthetics, and wild stakes,” Hunter said. “But beneath all of it is a real human story. I think that’s what makes BET stand out.”
While Mike isn’t part of the school’s elite social hierarchy, his outsider status may be what allows him to see the bigger picture.
“When you're not distracted by the flashiness, you start noticing the trick — how everyone’s attention is being misdirected.”
On Working With Yumiko (Miku Martineau)
One of the central dynamics in the show is between Mike and Yumiko.
“Their relationship is thrilling, heartbreaking, and empowering,” Hunter shared. “It was a gift to explore those emotional beats with Miku.”
He’s excited for fans to dissect that connection, as well as the others that develop across the ten-episode arc.
Would Hunter Be Friends With Mike?
Absolutely.
“I was trying to be friends with Mike while I was playing Mike,” he laughed. “Whether or not he’d accept me as a friend? That’s up to him.”
What to Expect in Season 1 — and What He Hopes for Season 2
While he couldn’t spoil specific moments, Hunter says the first and final episodes will hit fans hardest.
“I can’t wait for people to see how these characters evolve from episode one to ten. It’s a journey.”
And if there’s a Season 2?
“I want to see where Mike goes next. He has such an interesting arc in Season 1, and I think there’s a lot left to explore.”
A Show That Sparks Dialogue, Not Conclusions
Hunter hopes BET doesn’t just entertain — but challenges audiences.
“This isn’t a thesis. It’s not a metaphor. It’s a doorway. I want people to walk through it and discover something for themselves.”
Catch Hunter Cardinal as Mike in BET, now streaming on Netflix. Dive into the world — but don’t expect to leave unchanged.