Our latest feature for Popternative Magazine features actor Ayo Solanke who stars in two major projects this month. Ayo stars alongside Katie Douglas and Aaron Abrams in the horror slasher Clown in a Cornfield which is now playing in theaters. It will eventually make it’s way to the horror streaming platform, Shudder. Ayo also stars in the new Netflix series Bet, which is based on the popular manga series Kakegurui, dropping worldwide on Netflix May 15th.
In our exclusive chat, Ayo discusses the Clown in a Cornfield book and preparing for his role, attending the world premiere at SXSW, and what we can expect from Bet and his character.
Exclusive photos for Popternative Magazine by Jenna Berman
Stylist: Sarah Daniels
Hair: Erin Klassen
MUA: Katie Elwood
What was your relationship like with the original Clown In A Cornfield material in regards to preparing for your role?
Ayo Solanke (AS): I never actually heard of the book before auditioning; however, I’m thankful that this movie allowed me to discover it. I definitely relied on the book as well as the script when it came to approaching Tucker. It was so interesting seeing how he related to the other characters and discovering his role in the infamous friend group of Kettle Springs. Given that this is two-dimensional material, I was able to bring Tucker to life with what was between the lines, and also with elements of him that I found in myself. His humor and energy are to die for… literally.
What is it like working on a slasher film at a time where there’s a big appetite for horror content?
AS: All I can say is that you will never not have a good time working on a movie like this. It’s so fun in the most bloody of ways. I think that’s why the [horror] community is so strong. They love the suspense, they love the story, and they love having a good damn time. Our goal was to give them exactly what they wanted—and more—when reading that title.
Photo: Jenna Berman
Before filming, were you afraid of clowns?
AS: Before filming, before acting, before waking up, before conception—yes. Yes, I was most definitely afraid of clowns. There’s just something about someone ominously smiling at you that will never sit right with me. Despite that, I never thought that a clown named Frendo would instill that same fear in me. All I will say is that Adam Cesare and Laura DeLuca did a great job of giving me nightmares.
Tell us about attending the world premiere of Clown in a Cornfield at SXSW.
AS: It was such a blessing to be at a renowned festival like SXSW. This was my first time—and hopefully not the last! My biggest takeaway from it was experiencing the audience reacting to the movie in such a positive way. Hearing all the hollering, cheering, and SCREAMS brought so much joy to my heart. Seeing the SXSW crowd appreciate the movie the way it was meant to be appreciated was the best feeling ever. It’s been almost two years since we shot it, and all our work felt very respected.
Photo: Jenna Berman
You also star in Netflix’s upcoming new series, Bet. What can you tell us about the show and your character?
AS: Bet is a new, exciting show arriving on Netflix on May 15th! It follows a transfer student from Japan arriving at a unique boarding school for the global elite. There, she’s on a mission to disrupt the school’s extreme hierarchical order and bring justice to her parents’ killer. It’s inspired by the manga Kakegurui by Homura Kawamoto. I play Ryan, who helps Yumeko navigate the extremities of the gambling-crazed school. A lot goes down in this series. It’s suspenseful, it’s fun, it’s dramatic—and most of all, it’s centred around gambling. A lot of people are going to be getting out their poker boards on May 15th.
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Clown in a Cornfield is now playing in theaters.
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