Mandeville Films

Mandeville Films is an American film and television production company headquartered in Burbank, California. It was established in January 1995 by producer and film executive David Hoberman after his departure from Walt Disney Studios. The company initially operated through a five-year, multipicture production arrangement with Disney, positioning it as an independent producer with access to a major studio's financing, distribution, and development infrastructure. The company's structure changed in 1999, when Todd Lieberman joined as a studio partner and president. Soon afterward, Hoberman and the company's employees left Mandeville to establish Hyde Park Entertainment with Ashok Amritraj. That move placed Mandeville's original activities on hold for a period of approximately three years, while Hoberman pursued a separate self-financing production model with studio relationships involving Disney and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Mandeville was re-formed in 2002 as Mandeville Films and Television. Hoberman rebuilt the company with Todd Lieberman as a partner, drawing on their earlier professional relationship. The reconstituted company signed an exclusive five-year agreement with Walt Disney Studios and developed a slate intended to include productions for Disney's Touchstone label and MGM. Projects associated with this phase included Walking Tall, Raising Helen, The Last Shot, and Beauty Shop. Mandeville subsequently returned to direct Disney collaboration, co-producing Eight Below and The Shaggy Dog in 2006. The company's business model has centered on producing feature films and television projects through partnerships with larger studios and distributors rather than operating as a publicly traded media conglomerate. Its work has covered family entertainment, comedy, drama, action, and other mainstream commercial categories. Mandeville also developed a television relationship with ABC; that arrangement was renewed in July 2015 for an additional two years, indicating an expansion beyond feature-film production into television development and production. In May 2018, Mandeville ended its partnership with Disney and entered a first-look production agreement with Universal Pictures. The move shifted the company's principal studio relationship while preserving its role as an independent production partner. In 2022, Todd Lieberman separated his interests from Mandeville. The group's later activities were reorganized as Hobie Films, which entered into a deal with Lionsgate in February 2023. The available reference material does not specify whether the original Mandeville Films name continues to be used for new productions after that reorganization, so its current operating scope is best treated as active but requiring further verification.

David Hoberman founded Mandeville Films in January 1995 after leaving Walt Disney Studios. The new company began with a five-year, multipicture production agreement with Disney. This arrangement gave Mandeville the position of an independent producer while connecting it to a major studio's development, financing, and distribution capabilities. In 1999, Todd Lieberman joined Mandeville as a studio partner and president. Shortly afterward, Hoberman and the company's employees departed to establish Hyde Park Entertainment with Ashok Amritraj. Because of this transition, Mandeville became inactive for roughly three years. Hoberman's work during the interval involved a self-financing production structure and relationships with both Walt Disney Studios and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Hoberman rebuilt Mandeville in 2002 under the name Mandeville Films and Television. Lieberman returned as his partner, having previously worked with Hoberman at Hyde Park. The reconstituted company signed an exclusive five-year agreement with Disney. Its planned slate included two films for Touchstone and two for MGM: Walking Tall, Raising Helen, The Last Shot, and Beauty Shop. These projects reflected the company's role as a producer working within studio distribution systems rather than as a standalone distributor. In 2006, Mandeville again collaborated directly with Disney on Eight Below and The Shaggy Dog. Over time, its activities expanded across feature films, television series, and made-for-television projects. The company also maintained a relationship with ABC, renewing its television agreement in July 2015 for two further years. A major strategic change came in May 2018, when Mandeville ended its Disney partnership and signed a first-look production agreement with Universal Pictures. This transfer changed the company's primary studio alliance but retained its independent-production identity. The available material does not provide financial terms or a complete account of the projects covered by the Universal agreement. In 2022, Todd Lieberman separated from Mandeville Films. The group was subsequently reorganized as Hobie Films and entered into a Lionsgate deal on February 21, 2023. The reference material does not establish the precise legal status of the original Mandeville entity after that reorganization, nor does it provide a current production slate. Accordingly, the company's historical record is well documented through its studio partnerships and filmography, while its present-day operating status requires additional verification.

• 2023

  Hobie Films is formed

  [1]Mandeville Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  The group is later reorganized as Hobie Films and enters into a deal with Lionsgate.

• 2022

  Lieberman leaves the partnership

  [1]Mandeville Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  Todd Lieberman separates from Mandeville Films.

• 2018

  Universal becomes first-look partner

  [1]Mandeville Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  Mandeville ends its Disney partnership and signs a first-look production agreement with Universal Pictures.

• 2015

  ABC partnership is renewed

  [1]Mandeville Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  Mandeville and ABC extend their television relationship for two additional years.

• 2006

  Return to direct Disney co-productions

  [1]Mandeville Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  Mandeville co-produces Eight Below and The Shaggy Dog with Disney.

• 2002

  Mandeville is re-formed

  [1]Mandeville Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  Hoberman re-establishes Mandeville Films and Television with Lieberman as a partner and signs an exclusive five-year contract with Walt Disney Studios.

• 1999

  Todd Lieberman joins as president and partner

  [1]Mandeville Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  Todd Lieberman becomes a studio partner and president shortly before Hoberman and the company's employees leave to form Hyde Park Entertainment.

• 1995

  Mandeville Films is founded

  [1]Mandeville Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  David Hoberman establishes Mandeville Films after leaving Walt Disney Studios and secures a five-year, multipicture production agreement with Disney.

An independent, studio-aligned production company focused on developing and producing commercially oriented feature films and television projects through first-look, co-production, and distribution partnerships.

• Feature film

  Walking Tall

  A feature film listed among the projects developed for Mandeville's post-2002 studio slate. It represents the company's role in packaging and producing commercially oriented theatrical films through studio relationships.

• Feature film

  Raising Helen

  A feature-film project associated with Mandeville's re-formed production operation and its agreement with Walt Disney Studios. It forms part of the company's early-2000s output across mainstream drama and comedy-oriented material.

• Feature film

  The Last Shot

  A film included in the slate planned under Mandeville's post-2002 studio arrangements. The title illustrates the company's use of studio partnerships to develop and produce feature-film projects.

• Feature film

  Beauty Shop

  A feature film associated with Mandeville's re-established production activities during its Disney and MGM-related period. It is part of the company's early-2000s commercial film portfolio.

• Feature film · 2006

  Eight Below

  A film co-produced by Mandeville and Disney in 2006. Its production demonstrates Mandeville's continuing participation in large-scale studio-backed feature films after the company returned to direct Disney collaboration.

• Feature film · 2006

  The Shaggy Dog

  A 2006 Disney co-production involving Mandeville Films. The project is one of the two films cited as evidence of the company's renewed direct collaboration with Disney during that period.

• Television production

  Television series

  Mandeville's television activities included development and production work conducted through its relationship with ABC. The available material identifies the partnership and its 2015 renewal but does not provide a complete title-by-title television catalog.

• Television film production

  Made-for-television films

  Made-for-television films are identified as part of Mandeville's production scope. Specific titles and release dates are not supplied in the reference material.

• 2022

  Separate the Hoberman-Lieberman partnershipOther

  Background

  Mandeville had operated for many years with David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman as partners and co-owners.

  Action taken

  Todd Lieberman split off from Mandeville Films.

  Aftermath

  The group was later reorganized as Hobie Films, with a subsequent Lionsgate deal announced in 2023.

  Source

• 2018

  Move from Disney to UniversalStrategy

  Background

  Mandeville's earlier partnership with Disney ended after years of studio-backed production.

  Action taken

  The company signed a first-look production agreement with Universal Pictures.

  Aftermath

  Universal became Mandeville's principal announced studio partner under the new arrangement.

  Source

• 2002

  Re-form Mandeville with an exclusive Disney contractStrategy

  Background

  Hoberman and Ashok Amritraj ended their association, allowing Hoberman to restore the Mandeville brand.

  Action taken

  Hoberman re-formed Mandeville Films and Television and brought Todd Lieberman back as a partner under an exclusive five-year Disney agreement.

  Aftermath

  The company returned to active development and scheduled projects for Touchstone and MGM before resuming direct Disney co-productions.

  Source

• 1999

  Shift operations to Hyde Park EntertainmentStrategy

  Background

  After Todd Lieberman joined Mandeville, Hoberman and the company's employees pursued a separate production structure with Ashok Amritraj.

  Action taken

  Hoberman and the employees left Mandeville to establish Hyde Park Entertainment, leaving Mandeville inactive for approximately three years.

  Aftermath

  Mandeville's activities were paused while Hoberman developed a self-financing outfit with studio relationships involving Disney and MGM.

  Source

• 1995

  Launch with a Disney production arrangementStrategy

  Background

  David Hoberman left Walt Disney Studios and created an independent production company with a major-studio relationship.

  Action taken

  Mandeville began operations under a five-year, multipicture production deal with Disney.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement established the studio-partner model that shaped much of Mandeville's subsequent activity.

  Source

1. 1Mandeville Filmsen.wikipedia.org