With buzz surrounding his comedic turn in “Tropic Thunder,” Tom Cruise is eyeing an even bigger humorous role.

The A-lister is loosely attached to “Food Fight,” a warmhearted comedy about a snooty New York chef who is forced to cook meals at a school cafeteria, with Cruise playing the role of the chef. The project is set up at Universal-based Working Title.

Veteran scribe Adam Brooks, who most recently wrote and directed the divorce dramedy “Definitely, Maybe,” is attached to write the screenplay. “Drillbit Taylor” helmer Steven Brill had been in talks to direct “Food Fight,” but they came to naught; a search for a new director is under way.

“Food Fight” would mark a departure for Cruise, who has made few comedies since his breakout role in 1983′s “Risky business“: His last such lead role was in 1996′s dramedy “Jerry Maguire.”

In “Tropic Thunder,” Cruise plays an overweight, over-the-top studio exec in what advance word has billed as a movie-stealing performance. Cruise has had other bit comedy parts over the years in films like “Austin Powers: Goldmember.”

The “Food Fight” attachment apparently is still loose for the star, who has several projects in development as an actor and producer.

Cruise next stars in United Artists’ historical action film “Valkyrie,” in which he plays a very noncomedic role: Klaus von Stauffenberg, the Nazi commander who plotted to kill Hitler.

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