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Star Wars Director's Half-Life, Portal Movies Still Coming

"We've got writers, and we're working on both those stories."

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The Half-Life and Portal movies that Star Wars director JJ Abrams and Valve boss Gabe Newell first announced in 2013 are still in the works--but it doesn't sound like they are coming anytime soon. As part of an appearance promoting 10 Cloverfield Lane, IGN asked Abrams if he had any update on either film. He said it's too early to talk specifics, though he did reveal that both projects have writers attached to them.

No Caption Provided

"Not yet, but they're in development," he said. "And we've got writers, and we're working on both those stories. But nothing that would be an exciting update."

As stated, the movies were announced in 2013, during the DICE Summit that year. Since then, we have not heard much at all, perhaps no surprise, given Abrams has been busy with a certain sci-fi series...

As IGN points out, 10 Cloverfield Lane director Dan Trachtenberg made a name for himself with a short film about Portal called Portal: No Escape. But there is no concrete evidence yet that he's working on Abrams' Portal movie.

Abrams and Newell have also discussed working together on a video game, though nothing has been announced. For his part, Abrams and his Bad Robot studio are working on Spyjinx, an action-strategy game launching in 2016 for PC and mobile devices. His team is collaborating with Infinity Blade and Shadow Complex developer Chair Entertainment on the brand new game.

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Redsyrup

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Hollywood needs a new JJ Abrams. Somebody with emotional attachment to the stories they produce. For JJ it's just a numbers game.

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noscope247

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Phrases "Half Life" and "Still Coming" being together is quite distilling.

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lfebaggins

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PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM HALF LIFE JJ ABRAMS

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Sgt-Damain

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Edited By Sgt-Damain

Portal movie...no thanks. Great game, terrible idea for a movie.

How many bad, failed movies have to be made before they realize that just because a game is popular doesn't mean it will make a good movie.

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Arsyad00

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HALF LIFE 3 IS REAL!!

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CivilizedPsycho

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Edited By CivilizedPsycho

So...if there are making a "Half-Life" movie, could this mean a concurrent release of "Half-Life 3" considering how long ago the previous game was released? Many younger gamers may not have played Half-Life 2(but should, even if it's old), and I'm sure there are some out there who may not be familiar with the franchise at all(gasp!). With that in mind, wouldn't it be wise to provide the potential movie-goer some supplementary material? Even older gamers could use something to refresh our memories as it has been a long time since Gordon Freeman has graced our screens.

I just got a feeling that there might actually be a "Half-Life 3" in the works. Not confirmed. Any thoughts about this?

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CivilizedPsycho

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@CivilizedPsycho: On a side note, I loved Portal and Portal 2, but how in the hell could anyone make a legitimate movie out of it? Its main appeal was figuring out how to exit each of the mind-bending rooms in conjunction with the Portal gun(device?) Sure, GLaDOS had a mouth on her, and even lied about the cake, but making a movie from this makes no sense to me. And will this movie be a prelude to a release of "Portal 3" by some chance?

Honestly, I rather there not be a movie for either franchise, as it could only tarnish the image of two respectable universes. But if these movies are merely to rekindle the fire, and usher in a new gaming experience, well that's fine with me! But why Jar Jar Abrams?

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asnakeneverdies

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No movies should be made, not until both IPs are, at least, half a century old. And definitely not by J.J Abrams.

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SweatySasquatch

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@asnakeneverdies: Even at 50 years from now, the movie will still release before a Half Life 3.

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BattleStreak

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Half-Life and Portal movies? By J.J Abrams? Why?

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xdude85

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No.

J.J. already trashed Star Wars, the last thing he needs is the Half-Life series.

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Redsyrup

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@xdude85: Add Star Trek and Superman to his path of destruction.

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cornbredx

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Edited By cornbredx

How hard would it have been to title this article "Half-Life and Portal movies still coming, says director"?

Why do you editors on Gamespot these days consistently make these awful titles? It's like you don't even care how terrible you look when you write anymore.

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deactivated-64efdf49333c4

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@cornbredx: Because "Star Wars" is a hot search engine word.

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Batmantheorphan

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Most video game movie projects never come to fruition, and after seeing those that did, let's hope that they are not serious about turning our beloved games into movies.

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Ember_to_Flame

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About a scientist that do not talk. Sounds interessting. Not all great games should become a Movie it is like they have nothing else to do.

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PlaystationZone

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Give up hopes half life 3 I think value don't care about fans because don't . Aslo there liar since said make half life into EPs since didn't finish story .

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xXxKTTxXx

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@playstationzone: I've given up hopes on you learning proper grammar....

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SweatySasquatch

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@xXxKTTxXx: https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3291/2876180125_e47ec327f8.jpg

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Flen15

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There sure are an awful lot of high profile game ip's that are trying to be made into movies at the moment. They're all kind of stuck in an awkward place right now because they're trying to actually make good movies out of them, but they can't get the right talent together to make it happen, so they're all just sitting around on the back burner.

One day there's going to be a video game movie that manages to get it right. A successful blockbuster. And then it's just going to explode. Sort of like what has already happened with comic book hero movies.

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danielbirchal

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Edited By danielbirchal

Of course it's still coming! JJ's mission isn't over until he destroys entire science fiction genre.

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DanZillaUK

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@danielbirchal: And lens flares a milk carton! Ohhhh just think of how awesome that would look, camera slowly swooping down around a counter, in the background we see a dining table with a box of cereal nestled beside a nice shapely bowl and just behind them, as the camera swings a little more BOOM! MILK CARTON LENS FLARE!

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luert

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personally I think they made plan for this but if the thing isn't moving on that means it'll never come out, newel has dota and steam and I'm pretty sure he's happy with just that, on this side I must say that at least EA is supporting other companies to release new games instead of earning from same old stuff

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LordOssiss

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I would just prefer the games, thanks.

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hyksiu

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3 is what I think about :)

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cboye18

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Edited By cboye18

What is it with Hollywood with making video game franchises into crappy movies? I guess they need the help of Spongebob's idiot box in order to boost their imagination because it's severely lacking.

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dhirendra_sahay

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Edited By dhirendra_sahay

I like to see Gaben in small role like Stan lee in Marvel movies. :)

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BruceWayneJr

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So eventually JJ's gonna end up smearing shit on every franchise?

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NTM23

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Half Life 3 won't be a game, but opt to be a film... That would suck.

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Spartan_418

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@NTM23: A movie would be preferable to a game that never comes out, tbh fam.

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Skrewdriven

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can hardly wait on how they will cram social justice and progressiveness down our throats...I think the aliens in Half Life could be pre op trannies that identify as 5 year old chinese girls.

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Kanus_oq_Seruna

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@Skrewdriven: If anything, Portal 1 and 2 are actually very progressive. Chell is crafty, creative, and dynamic. She does face adversity with GLaDOS, who throws old timey gender role concepts at Chell, but Chell pushes through it all to prove that doesn't matter.

In Portal 2, we learn that GLaDoS came from a time when gender role enforcement was more accepted, but it's likely the personality for her came from a 2nd wave feminist that was bitter about gender roles. In either case, all her snipes at Chell may have come from her knowing only that a woman does this and that, or it may be that she was testing Chell's resolve without knowing it, and deep down wanted to see Chell succeed. Of course, her programming prevented most of what she'd want out of the particular test subject, up until she gave Chell freedom from the facility.

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XIntoTheBlue

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Edited By XIntoTheBlue

@Skrewdriven: Don't worry, he's gonna go the Ghostbusters route and make every character a woman.

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DanZillaUK

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@XIntoTheBlue: About time someone did! Lord knows a female whateverhisnameinHalfLifeis is exactly what a Half Life movie needs.

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s3as3a

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@DanZillaUK: Gordina Freewoman :P

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rosinmonkekyx17

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Edited By rosinmonkekyx17

This is all a cover-up for the release of Half-Life 3

Half-Life 3 confirmed!

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catsimboy

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The movie versions will have a trilogy before the games do. Valve doesn't care about making games anymore that they can't put loot crates in.

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gamingdevil800

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oh no NOT JAR JAR ABRAMS!

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berserker66666

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But still no Half Life 3 :(

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ECH71

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Well I hope the HL movie will only be based on HL1... HL2's story was meh.

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Zerohournow

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JJabrams...god no...we don't need another safe and uninspired reboot from him.

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berserker66666

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Edited By berserker66666

@zerohournow: You mean the recent Star Wars movie called Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope Remastered Edition? I know.

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lfebaggins

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@berserker66666: Which New Hope edition are you referring to? Are you referring to the edition released in 97, or the one released in 2004, or the one released in 2011, or the new one that was in theaters last year? I can't even tell anymore.

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Kanus_oq_Seruna

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@berserker66666: Hey, could have been Episode 1: Revenge of Binks. Something new, exciting. Oh wait.

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