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

Marc Laidlaw, the renowned lead writer of the Half-Life series, made his mark in the literary world long before his video game fame. In 1981, at the age of 21, he penned the short story "400 Boys," which was initially published in Omni magazine in 1983. The story gained further recognition when it was included in the anthology "Mirrorshades: The Cyberpunk Anthology," exposing it to a broader audience. On his website, Laidlaw humorously notes that "400 Boys" has likely been read by more people than any other work he's written, save perhaps for his Dota 2 seasonal ad copy. While the gaming community knows him primarily for Half-Life, Laidlaw's contributions extend far beyond video games, illustrating the unpredictable nature of creative careers.

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 combines beauty and brutality, brought to life by Canadian director Robert Valley, who previously won an Emmy for his work on the "Ice" episode of the series LDR.

Reflecting on the origins of "400 Boys," Laidlaw shares, "The inspiration for it just came out of walking around. I lived in Eugene, Oregon, and there were always phone poles with names of bands playing in town. It was just name after name of super cool bands, and I wanted to capture that. I came up with the idea of having different gangs in the story, each with their own unique names, and it was fun. That was a significant driving force behind the story."

Marc Laidlaw has moved on from Half-Life but remains connected to the internet. Photo credit: Mimi Raver.

Over four decades later, "400 Boys" has found new life as an episode in the fourth season of Netflix's popular animated anthology series, Love, Death and Robots. Directed by Robert Valley, known for his work on Zima Blue and Ice, and written by Tim Miller, the episode features a voice cast including John Boyega, known for his role as Finn in Star Wars. This unexpected revival marks a significant moment for Laidlaw, who never anticipated such a resurgence.

In a recent video call, Laidlaw remarked, "The story kind of faded out, but cyberpunk kept going, and I didn't really think about it that much." Despite the long wait, the idea of adapting "400 Boys" into a visual medium had been considered about 15 years earlier by Tim Miller from Blur, a company renowned for its video game cutscenes. However, due to studio changes, the project fell through at that time.

Love, Death and Robots debuted in March 2019, quickly gaining a reputation for its edgy and adult-oriented content. Laidlaw expressed admiration for Tim Miller's work, particularly his adaptation of J. G. Ballard's "The Drowned Giant," which further solidified his respect for Miller's creative vision.

400 Boys is now an episode of Love, Death and Robots on Netflix. Image credit: Netflix.

After relocating to Los Angeles in 2020, Laidlaw met Miller at various events, but he remained cautious about pushing for the adaptation of "400 Boys." A year ago, he received an email inquiring if he would be interested in having the story optioned, and the project finally came to fruition. Laidlaw had minimal involvement in the adaptation process, preferring to enjoy the final product as a spectator. He praised the visual enhancements and the performances, particularly noting John Boyega's contribution.

Laidlaw views "400 Boys" as a product of a younger self from "lifetimes ago," yet he remains pleased with the story despite its age. After "400 Boys," Laidlaw's career took a significant turn in 1997 when he joined Valve and contributed to the development of Half-Life. Following his retirement from Valve in 2016, Laidlaw has explored other creative avenues, including music. He humorously reflects on his current position, "I'm like, I'm in the wrong business! I should just be leaking information about my old employer."

Reflecting on his time at Valve and the recent Half-Life anniversaries, Laidlaw found it therapeutic to reconnect with old colleagues and reminisce about their shared history. However, he acknowledges that his connection to the company and its projects has waned, and he is no longer involved in the creative process. He remains open to writing for video games but feels that the industry has moved on, with fewer compelling offers coming his way. Laidlaw amusingly recounts being approached to write for a mobile phone laser tag game, highlighting the disconnect between his past achievements and current opportunities.

When asked about the possibility of returning to work on Half-Life 3, Laidlaw firmly states, "I would not do that." He believes that new creators should take the helm and that his time with the series is over. He has not played Half-Life: Alyx and feels disconnected from the current developments at Valve. Laidlaw's focus has shifted to personal projects, free from the constraints of others' schedules.

As Marc Laidlaw steps away from Half-Life, his past works, like "400 Boys," continue to find new audiences. The unexpected revival of his early work on Netflix is a testament to his enduring influence and the serendipitous nature of creative success. Laidlaw muses, "The fact that I got into the cyberpunk thing before it was called cyberpunk, and then I came across this sort of beginning game company that ended up making Half-Life... I've been lucky to be a part of these things that just kind of become phenomena."