Kane Parsons, the director behind the popular found-footage horror film Backrooms, has been spotted at Valve's headquarters in Bellevue, Washington, for the second time this year. The visit, documented in an Instagram story shared on September 16 and reported by IGN and Gabe Follower, has intensified rumors of a potential Portal movie adaptation helmed by Parsons.
Parsons has previously spoken openly about the significant influence Portal has had on his work. In May, he told The New York Times that directing a Portal feature film would be his "dream." This visit follows a prior trip to Valve's offices in June, which was noted by users on the Valve subreddit.
While these visits and Parsons' expressed passion for the Portal franchise are encouraging signs for fans hoping for a new film, there are factors that might temper expectations. Parsons also indicated to The New York Times in May that he intends to see the Backrooms franchise through to a conclusion and is already attached to direct a sequel for A24. Furthermore, J.J. Abrams has an existing, though seemingly stalled, Portal movie project with Warner Bros., which could present contractual hurdles.
The success of recent video game adaptations, such as the critically acclaimed Resident Evil and Alex Garland's upcoming Elden Ring movie, has increased interest in high-quality gaming-to-film projects. Parsons' directorial style, which effectively captures the unsettling corporate surrealism that defined Portal, combined with his clear enthusiasm for the source material, would make him a compelling candidate for such a project. Parsons also has a connection to the gaming industry through his father, Michael Parsons, a former technical artist at Telltale Games.