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.�