(Image source from: Russell Crowe)

Actors Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling are likely to star in 'The Nice Guys'. Writer-director Shane Black is pursuing Crowe and Gosling for his next project, according to reports

Joel Silver will produce 'The Nice Guys' under his Silver Pictures banner.

Set in the 1970s, the film follows two men (to be played by Crowe and Gosling) - Holland March a private eye, who is an alcoholic by the name; and Jackson Healy, who is a recovering alcoholic available as muscle-for-hire.

The two men are brought together by a mysterious suicide involving a fading porn star. The aunt of the porn star claims that she has seen her alive and also well, though she is supposed to be dead.

The pair get entangled in the case, bringing them together. 'The Nice Guys' suggests a murder conspiracy, deeply rooted in smog and the auto industry in the US.

Crowe has not confirmed that he would join the project. 'The Nice Guys' may clash with work on 'The Water Diviner', Crowe's directorial debut. Meanwhile Gosling also premiered 'Lost River', his own directorial debut, at the Cannes Film Festival that had a lukewarm response.

(AW: Pratima Tigga)