While Valve insist that Portal 2 won’t be released in 2008 (presumably for PC, Xbox 360 & PS3); casting for voice actors has already begun and recording will start this July.
If you want to avoid Portal 2 storyline and character SPOILERS, do not read beyond this sentence. Me? I couldn’t resist reading it all.
The casting call included a character description for Portal 2’s new character Cave Johnson (pictured above). To quote:
“CAVE JOHNSON (ECCENTRIC DEAD BILLIONAIRE)] Cave Johnson is a character for a new game in the Portal series from Valve Software. Portal is a dark comedy; the role will require comic timing, with occasional dramatic moments. Age: early 60s. He is founder and CEO of a successful applied science company, a self-made billionaire who’s learned to trust his gut and doesn’t sweat the details—is a big picture thinker. He might not know how science works, but he knows how people work. Used to getting what he wants. Extroverted, enthusiastic and opinionated. High energy: life is an adventure he’s happy to be on. A born salesman, a leader, an evangelist. People trust him, even when his plans are clearly dangerous. Speaks with a slight Southern/Western accent (natural, not too broad). He a uses warm, homespun delivery to put people at their ease. He doesn’t accept the responsibility that comes with his power. Either he doesn’t see or chooses not to see the ramifications of his actions. Goes from sidekick to principle antagonist. Sarts to lose his grip on his humanity as the story progresses. As he isolates himself from the people around him, he loses touch with reality…VOICE OVER ONLY [sic]”
A sample of the script was also leaked and includes Cave Johnson dialogue samples that give a better idea of Portal 2’s storyline. To quote:
“(Introducing himself over a loudspeaker to the Player)
Welcome, friend! I hope you enjoyed yer brief detention in the Relaxation Vault. Cave Johnson here, founder and CEO of Aperture Science — the best damn applied sciences company on Earth. How good is the science here? Get a load a’ this: I am dead! Now, yer probably askin’ yourself, “Cave, come on now. How is this possible? Are you some manner of Dracula? Or Frankenstein? Or dependin’ on yer cultural heritage, a Blackula or Latin Frankenstein? No sir! It’s science. As of this mornin’, yer old buddy Cave has been resurrected inside of a computer. And I never felt better!
You may also be askin’, “Cave, where am I? When can I leave? Am I in danger?” Let me answer them questions, with a question. “Who is ready for a science adventure?” Yeah! I hope the answer is you! Because the test starts in three… Two… Go!
(Cave congratulates you on your success)
Masters level testing: Completed! Hell, crushed! You. Are. A. Genius.
(Cave contemplates the afterlife)
I been thinkin. Heck, suspended as I am in this inky purgatorium, I got nothin’ to do but think. What if them engineers didn’t do me no favors pourin’ me into a computer? What if they denied me my final reward? Lemme tell ya about a fella. Lived thousands a years ago. Didn’t want nothin’ but fer folks to be a little bit nicer to each other. And in the end, he sacrificed himself to save us all. You know who I’m talking about: Hercules.
The man battled minotaurs! Medusas! Hell, he put the gods themselves in an arm bar. And for overcomin’ all them trials? He got to go to Olympus. Damn it! I battled my monsters! Where’s my Olympus? Unless… I haven’t killed all my monsters… Anyway, this next test. Whoo… Yeah… Good luck with that…”
You can’t see it, but I’m totally geeking out here! Fantastic stuff. — Credit goes to Kombo.