"Marc Laidlaw's 40-Year-Old Cyberpunk Tale Adapted into Netflix's Love, Death & Robots Episode"

Marc Laidlaw's early foray into writing with "400 Boys" in 1981 showcases his talent long before he became renowned as Valve's lead writer and a key figure in the Half-Life series. Initially published in Omni magazine in 1983, the short story gained further prominence when included in the influential anthology "Mirrorshades: The Cyberpunk Anthology." On his website, Marc amusingly notes that "400 Boys" may have reached more readers than any of his other works, save perhaps the seasonal ad copy for Dota 2. While the gaming community primarily recognizes him for his contributions to Half-Life, Marc's creative output extends well beyond video games, highlighting the unpredictable nature of a writer's journey.

In a post-apocalyptic city where warring gangs adhere to a bushido-like code of honor, the emergence of the 400 Boys gang forces them to unite. This narrative, blending beauty and brutality, is brought to life by Canadian director Robert Valley, acclaimed for his Emmy-winning LDR episode "Ice."

Marc recalls the inspiration for "400 Boys" stemming from his time in Eugene, Oregon. "I lived in Eugene, Oregon, and there was always the phone poles with the names of bands playing in town," he explains. "I just wanted a way to do that, to make up lots of band names. So I came up with the idea of using gangs in the story to come up with names for all these different gangs. That was the fun part that drove the story."

Marc Laidlaw has moved on from Half-Life but remains active online. Photo credit: Mimi Raver.

Fast forward over four decades, "400 Boys" has now been adapted into an episode in the fourth season of Netflix's acclaimed animated anthology series, Love, Death and Robots. Directed by Robert Valley, who previously helmed "Zima Blue" and "Ice," and written by Tim Miller, the episode features John Boyega, known for his role as Finn in Star Wars. This unexpected resurgence marks a significant moment for Marc, who never anticipated such a revival.

"The story kind of faded out, but cyberpunk kept going, and I didn't really think about it that much," Marc shared during a video call just before the launch of Season 4 on Netflix.

The journey of "400 Boys" to the screen spans 40 years, a testament to the story's enduring appeal. An earlier attempt to adapt it around 15 years ago by Tim Miller from Blur fell through due to studio changes. However, the success of Love, Death and Robots in 2019 rekindled interest in Marc's work. Marc expresses admiration for Tim Miller's ability to adapt unique stories, like J.G. Ballard's "The Drowned Giant," into compelling animated features.

400 Boys has been transformed into an episode of Love, Death and Robots on Netflix. Image credit: Netflix.

After relocating to Los Angeles in 2020, Marc met Tim Miller several times at local events. He remained cautiously optimistic about the potential revival of "400 Boys." A year ago, he received the email he had been hoping for, offering to option the story for Love, Death and Robots. Marc had limited involvement in the adaptation process, preferring to enjoy the final product from a distance. "It was fun to sit back and not have to be involved in the trenches on something for once," he says. "I just wanted to enjoy it when it was done and see what they made of it."

Marc appreciates the visual enhancements and the new elements added to the story, particularly praising the voice work by John Boyega and the setting. "400 Boys" represents a different era of his life, written by a much younger Marc. "I'm still pretty happy with it considering how young I was when I wrote it," he reflects.

Following a period of relative quiet, Marc joined the gaming industry in 1997, contributing to Valve's development of Half-Life. After retiring from Valve in 2016, Marc admits to having "retired too hard," feeling somewhat disconnected from the publishing and gaming industries. He now focuses on music and shares content on his YouTube channel, especially after the release of Valve's Half-Life 2 anniversary documentary last year.

Reflecting on his time at Valve and the documentary process, Marc found it therapeutic to reconnect with old colleagues and reminisce about their shared experiences. With the Half-Life and Half-Life 2 anniversaries behind him, the only remaining Valve project he might discuss is Dota 2, now 12 years old. He humorously speculates about future Valve documentaries, possibly on Alien Swarm, another project he contributed to.

Despite his storied past with Half-Life, Marc remains open to returning to video game writing, playfully suggesting he could have helped with dialogue polishing for Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding. Yet, the lack of compelling offers post-Valve surprised him, with some proposals like writing a synopsis for a mobile phone laser tag game feeling misaligned with his expertise.

When asked about the possibility of returning for Half-Life 3, Marc firmly declines. "I would not do that," he states, emphasizing the need for new creative voices to take the franchise forward. He acknowledges his age and the demanding nature of game development, preferring to focus on personal projects at his own pace. "The Half-Life part of my life is way behind me," he concludes.

As Marc Laidlaw steps away from Half-Life, his earlier works like "400 Boys" continue to find new life, demonstrating the lasting impact of his creative endeavors. Perhaps in the future, other projects from his past, including those from Valve, might see similar adaptations, keeping his legacy alive in new forms.