If this is actually Half Life 3... it kinda makes sense they waited for all the hype to die down, for it to fall out of meme culture, before releasing it. Even five years ago, the expectations for this game were astronomical. There was absolutely no way a game made by mere mortals could ever live up to that kind of hype. Now, people have chilled to the point they can actually appreciate Half Life 3 on its own merits.
Which is a long-winded way to say my bet is Half Life 3's been done for at least 5 years now. Valve's just waiting on the right moment to pull the trigger.
As far as we know, Gordon Freeman’s character traits include.. long, awkward silences and the ability to climb ladders using only your feet. I love Idris Elba, but I think almost anyone could play Gordon.
That was part of the point of making Gordon a silent protagonist. It’s much easier to self insert (increasing immersion)if you don’t force a personality upon the player.