After watching 30 seconds of Tom Cruise’s portrayal of Hollywood uber-producer Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder, even the crustiest cynic will be convinced that Cruise has fine comedic chops. And it looks like he’ll be exercising them again soon in a new family comedy from Universal.

Cruise is in negotiations to star in Food Fight, a comedy about an arrogant New York Chef who must condescend to cook meals in an elementary school cafeteria. Adam Brooks (Definitely, Maybe) is attached to write the screenplay.

Cruise has had a few dramady roles in the past, in films such as Jerry Maguire and his feature film breakout Risky Business. And he’s done comedic cameos in films like Austin Powers: Goldmember. But Food Fight would be his first purely comedic lead, if he can sandwich it in between his other obligations, both as actor and producer. He’ll next be seen in the very serious role of Klaus von Stauffenberg, the Nazi commander who attempted to kill Hitler, in Valkyrie.