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Paramount Pictures has decided to investigate "The Sleeping Detective," buying a pitch for mid-six figures from writer-director Wayne Kramer for Leonard Goldberg to produce.

Studio is also eyeing Kramer to direct the contemporary detective story, set in Los Angeles. Amanda Goldberg and manager Michael Pierce will also produce.

Kramer made his directorial debut on "The Cooler," which he wrote with Frank Hannah. Lions Gate acquired the North American rights at Sundance this year for $1.5 million and has set a Nov. 26 release date for the romancer, starring William H. Macy, Alec Baldwin and Maria Bello.

Macy stars as a casino employee who makes hot players unlucky but who loses that ability when he falls in love. "The Cooler" is produced by Sean Furst and Michael Pierce and exec produced by Edward R. Pressman, John Schmidt, Alessandro Camon, Brett Morrison, Robert Gryphon and Joe Madden.