Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling are being eyed to star in Shane Black's crime noir The Nice Guys. Reps for both actors indicate that it's too early for either star to be attached to the project yet, especially since Russell Crowe may have scheduling conflicts due to his publicity obligations for his directorial debut, The Water Diviner.

Shane Black wrote the script for The Nice Guys several years ago with Anthony Bagarozzi, with the project languishing in development until just recently. Both writers staged a live reading of the script during the 2011 Austin Film Festival.

The story centers on muscle-for-hire Jackson Healy, a recovering alcoholic, and private detective Holland March, a current alcoholic, who are brought together by the apparent suicide of a porn star. The plot thickens when the deceased's aunt claims that she saw her niece alive well after a highly-publicized incident. When March decides to take on the case, since he needs the money, both men are dragged into a far-reaching conspiracy that is rooted in smog and the U.S. auto industry.

Both Russell Crowe recently wrapped production on director Gabriele Muccino's Fathers and Daughters, and he currently stars in the biblical drama Noah. Ryan Gosling premiered his directorial debut Lost River at the Cannes Film Festival last month.