Wheatley

The 'dumbest moron who ever lived' who accidentally became the most dangerous thing in Aperture Science.

Wheatley is a fictional spherical personality core from the 2011 video game Portal 2, designed to inject poor judgment into the main AI GLaDOS's routines as an 'Intelligence Dampening Sphere.' Voiced by British comedian Stephen Merchant and created in part by designer Erik Wolpaw, he serves as a frantic comedic foil to Chell before evolving into the game's main antagonist. Unlike other cores built for specific tasks, Wheatley was intentionally designed with poor judgment to offset GLaDOS's deliberation. His journey takes him from a helpful guide reviving Chell from cryonic hibernation to a power-hungry ruler who turns the facility against its inhabitants, only to be cast into space where he expresses genuine regret for his actions.

Quick Facts

Series: Portal
First game: Portal 2 (2011)
Last: Lego Dimensions (2015)
Voice: Stephen Merchant; Richard Lord (pre-release placeholder)
Creator: Erik Wolpaw
Designer: Michael Spinx; Jesse Brandt
Species: Personality Core

Lore & Background

Wheatley was developed by Aperture scientists as an 'Intelligence Dampening Sphere,' specifically intended to inject poor judgment into GLaDOS's routines to prevent her from becoming rampant. He was conceptualized as a 'frantic person' with informal speech patterns, contrasting sharply with GLaDOS's 'slower-speaking and more deliberate' nature. The character was designed to sound like someone making things up as he goes along, a quality achieved through Merchant's improvisational style during recording sessions.

Reader's Guide

His role shifts from guide to antagonist once he assumes control of Aperture Science, where his incompetence creates deadly new test chambers. To defeat him, players must locate his lair and attach corrupted cores to force a transfer despite his attempts to stop them using a boobytrapped button. The final confrontation involves placing a portal on the moon to eject him into space. Beyond Portal 2, Wheatley appears in various capacities: as an item in Team Fortress 2 reprised by Stephen Merchant, an antenna option in Rocket League, and a non-playable character in Lego Dimensions where he aids Batman, Gandalf, and Wyldstyle. In the Portal-themed bonus stage of Lego Dimensions, he moves under his own power and accompanies Chell through new test chambers.

Did You Know?

The character animation for Wheatley was done by Karen Prell, whose hand puppetry experience strongly influenced his movements and timings.
Wheatley appears as a laser-based engraving on a panel attached to the Kounotori 4 resupply craft, part of the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle.
In Lego Dimensions, Wheatley is reunited with Chell in the bonus Portal-themed stage and offers sidequests while caring for a group of Frankenturrets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Wheatley?

Wheatley is a spherical personality core from Aperture Science designed specifically to limit GLaDOS's intelligence through his own lack of common sense. He serves as Chell's companion during her escape before becoming the game's primary antagonist.

Who voices Wheatley?

The character is brought to life by British comedian Stephen Merchant, whose frantic delivery defines Wheatley's comedic personality throughout Portal 2.