Long before taking the helm on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, J.J. Abrams was – and continues to be – a director that all but specialized in fostering various sci-fi projects ranging from Michael Bay’s Armageddon to the wonderful, deeply nostalgic Super 8. That continued this year with the recent launch of Westworld, HBO’s dark and brooding event series that marries the future with the reimagined past – and does so rather brilliantly.
Set for premiere next week, Abrams was in attendance at Westworld‘s red carpet event, soliciting question about HBO’s budding new tentpole and beyond. Talk inevitably turned toward the long-rumored movie adaptations of Half-Life and Portal, and when quizzed on the status of each, the filmmaker/producer told IGN that both are “still very much in development.”
Echoing his status report from back in March, Abrams indicated that Valve – the developer behind both properties – continues to host talks with various writers. But fans can rest assured in the knowledge that an announcement for Portal is coming – and soon.
“We are having some really interesting discussions with writers, many of whom…once you said you’re doing a movie or show about a specific thing that is a known quantity you start to find people who are rabid about these things. As someone who loves playing Half Life and Portal, what’s the movie of this, it’s incredible when you talk to someone who just ‘gets’ it, it’s like, oh my god, it’s really the seed for this incredible tree you’re growing.”
First announced at DICE 2013, beyond fleeting teases here and there, the feature film adaptations of Half-Life and Portal have displayed little sign of progress. Valve is a company notorious for its secrecy, though, so one or indeed both projects could be further along than expected. We’ll have a better understanding of those plans once Valve and J.J. Abrams are fit and ready but until then, you can share your hopes – and apprehensions – via the comments section below.