Mandeville and Top Cow Shoot for Feature Adaptation of “Crosshair”
Deal Closes at Comic-Con

(Los Angeles, CA; July 28, 2010) – Mandeville Films’ partners David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman announced today that Mandeville and Top Cow Productions will join forces to produce a feature film version of Top Cow’s comic book “Crosshair.” Mandeville learned of the project of the eve of San Diego’s Comic-Con, and, after extensive negotiations, closed the deal over the weekend to adapt the comic to the big screen.

Created by Marc Silvestri, written by Jeff Katz, and illustrated by Silverstri and Allan Jefferson, “Crosshair” follows a former CIA assassin turned suburban superdad who faces his most dangerous enemy ever - himself. Justin Weller learns that he has 48 hours until a suppressed program in his brain will turn him into an unstoppable killing machine aimed at the President of the United States. Weller races against the clock to uncover and reverse the source of his trigger.

“When Top Cow showed us this story, we jumped at the chance to work on this project with them,” said Hoberman. “Our companies are similarly aligned with the goal of delivering one-of-a-kind stories.”

“Crosshair is a unique premise in which the main character is both the hero and the villain,” said Lieberman. “This dichotomy is very unsettling, which makes it a fantastic twist for audiences.”

"After working with the Mandeville guys on ‘Alibi,’ we knew Crosshair could not be in better hands,” said Top Cow President Matt Hawkins. “When they said they wanted to turn the property into film, Marc Silvestri and I were incredibly excited."

Mandeville’s partners Hoberman and Lieberman will produce. Crosshair writer Katz will co-produce for Top Cow. Executive producers are David Manpearl of Mandeville, “Crosshair” Creator Silvestri and Top Cow‘s Hawkins.

Top Cow lit up the comic book industry when Universal’s adaptation of Top Cow’s “Wanted,” starring Angelina Jolie, scored $207 million in worldwide box office in 2008.

This is the second collaboration between Mandeville and Top Cow. At last year’s Comic-Con, the two joined forces to develop a feature version of Top Cow’s title, “Alibi.”



About Mandeville Films and Television

Since its original founding in 1995, Mandeville Films and Television has become one of Hollywood’s premier production entities, having obtained over $1.2 billion in theatrical box office grosses and with over 30 films currently in development or production. Mandeville founder David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman have been involved with over 100 motion pictures as producers or studio executives. Mandeville’s feature film hits include the most successful romantic comedy of 2009, “The Proposal,” starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. Mandeville, in association with Relativity Media, produced the upcoming film “The Fighter,” based on the true story of boxing legend Micky Ward, starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Melissa Leo and Amy Adams; and directed by David O. Russell. For USA Television, Mandeville produced the hit series “Monk,” the multiple Emmy-winner that ran for eight seasons, and is now producing the police drama series “Detroit 1-8-7” for ABC, starring Michael Imperioli. Mandeville is currently headquartered at The Walt Disney Studios, where Mandeville is currently preparing to start production on a new “Muppets” feature.

About Top Cow Productions Inc.

Top Cow Productions, Inc. (www.topcow.com), a Los Angeles-based entertainment company, was founded in December of 1992 by artist Marc Silvestri, who also co-founded Image Comics earlier that same year. Top Cow currently publishes its line of comic books in 21 languages in over 55 different countries. The company has launched 20 franchises (18 original and two licensed) in the industry’s Top 10, seven at #1, a feat accomplished by no other publisher in the last two decades. Its flagship franchise, WITCHBLADE, was TNT’s #1 original film of 2000 and the subsequent TV series was released on DVD on July 29, 2008. A feature film, co-produced by Platinum Studios, Inc. and Arclight Films, is slated to begin production in Australia with director Michael Rymer. WITCHBLADE is also the first American property to be fully adapted in Japan as an original anime and manga by Studio GONZO in 2006. Top Cow’s other flagship property, THE DARKNESS, was developed into a major next-generation video game release by Starbreeze and 2K Games and achieved platinum sales status. WANTED, an Eisner-nominated miniseries published by Top Cow from 2003-2005, is now a major motion picture from Universal Pictures starring Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman. Virtually all of Top Cow’s other properties are in development as feature films, live-action television, animation or video games. Top Cow has also successfully licensed and merchandised its franchises into toys, statues, clothing, lithographs, puppets, posters, magnets, shot glasses, lighters, lunch pails, wall scrolls, mouse pads, die-cast cars, calendars, Christmas ornaments, Halloween masks, trading cards, standees, video games and roleplaying games.