A live-action take on one of Valve's most beloved games, "Portal," might finally be getting somewhere, and the name attached is not who fans might have guessed.
The director behind one of this year's biggest horror surprises has revealed exactly which game he would love to adapt next.
'Portal' Movie Adaptation Is Getting Kane Parsons?
Kane Parsons, the 20-year-old filmmaker behind the breakout horror hit "Backrooms," told The New York Times that a feature film adaptation of "Portal" would be his dream project. Parsons said he is looking into whether the idea is even possible, describing his approach so far as a lot of caution and a lot of curiosity.
Nothing has been confirmed beyond that statement, meaning there is currently no official deal, studio attachment, or timeline tied to the idea.
'Backroom's' Director Could Lead 'Portal'
In a recent report shared via X, Parsons posted another photo showing him touring Valve's office in Bellevue, Washington again. This led many online sleuths to speculate that he could be the potential director for the "Portal" movie adaptation.
‘The Backrooms’ director Kane Parsons is posting from Valve's office again
— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) September 16, 2026
He recently expressed interest in making a ‘Portal’ film pic.twitter.com/TXhmgtAWmm
Parsons has been open about how much his filmmaking style draws from video games rather than traditional cinema, specifically naming "Portal" and "Half-Life" as major influences on his sensibility.
That premise grew out of Parsons' own YouTube series exploring the Backrooms creepypasta, an internet legend built around liminal, unsettling spaces like empty offices and abandoned malls. According to Parsons, the connection to "Portal" runs deeper than surface-level aesthetics, since he has described frequently dreaming about being inside the game itself.
The sterile test chambers, black comic corporate menace, and unsettling artificial intelligence that define the "Portal" series clearly echo through the atmosphere Parsons built for "Backrooms," which helps explain why fans connected the dots so quickly once his comments started circulating.
No New Game From 'Portal' Franchise?
Valve itself has stayed quiet on both a "Portal" film and any new mainline game in the series for years now. The most recent major release tied to the franchise remains "Portal 2," which came out back in 2011, meaning the property has gone without a new entry for well over a decade.
Parsons' comments do not involve Valve directly, and there is no indication the studio is currently developing anything alongside his interest in the project. Given how many video game adaptations have stalled or fallen apart before reaching production, Parsons' cautious framing suggests this remains an early, personal ambition rather than a project already moving through development.
What to Expect From Valve's 'Portal'
Since nothing has moved beyond Parsons expressing interest, there is no confirmed plot, casting, or release timeline to speak of at this stage. What does seem clear is the tone Parsons would likely bring to the material, given how "Backrooms" already channels the same liminal, unsettling spaces and dark humor that define the "Portal" games.
Parsons is not the first filmmaker to circle the franchise either, with other directors having floated interest in adapting it over the years without anything materializing. That said, the recent Valve office tour of Parsons has the "Portal" fanbase wilding over his potential involvement.
