Mandeville's got an 'Alibi'

Hoberman, Lieberman to produce film

By DAVE MCNARY

It's the truth -- Mandeville Films and Top Cow Prods. are developing a feature version of Top Cow's comicbook "Alibi," with Mandeville toppers David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman producing.

Comicbook, published last year, centers on a well-known socialite whose public presence establishes a perfect alibi for the covert activity of his secret twin brother, a government assassin.

Deal's aimed at replicating the success of "Wanted." That Angelina Jolie starrer, an adaptation of another Top Cow title, topped $340 million in worldwide grosses. And Top Cow's "Witchblade" title was the basis for a TNT series.

"Alibi" was created by Top Cow president Matt Hawkins and Michael Renegar, written by Joshua Hale Fialkov and illustrated by Jeremy Haun. Top Cow CEO and founder Marc Silvestri will exec produce the feature project along with Hawkins and Mandeville VP David Manpearl.

"What I love about 'Alibi' is the great synthesis between the paranoia of 'Three Days of the Condor' with the action of the Jason Bourne movies," Hoberman said.

Mandeville's "The Proposal" has topped $144 million for Disney. Its sci-fi thriller "Surrogates," starring Bruce Willis, opens Sept. 29 via Disney/Touchstone, and it's currently shooting "The Fighter" for Paramount, with David O. Russell directing Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale.