The Drive and Only God Forgives star is partnering with producer Marc Platt and Warner Bros. to option Jeffrey Spivak's book about Berkeley, Buzz: The Life And Art Of Busby Berkeley. Gosling is initially overseeing development simply as one of the producers, but he has an eye on both the lead, and if everything works out, the director's chair.
Berkeley made his name on films such as 42nd Street, Dames, Gold Diggers Of 1933 and Hollywood Hotel. He also choreographed the Scarecrow's number in The Wizard Of Oz. But his life extended far beyond that, with a stint in the army during World War I and a long career that spanned from the 1920s into the 1950s.
Gosling and his collaborators are about to start meeting writers to work on the project. He's appearing in one of Terrence Malick's still-untitled new films and made his directorial debut with How To Catch A Monster, which should hit screens this year.