Tom Cruise has been tapped to take the reigns of Food Fight, a new high school cafeteria comedy. We get wind of this casting from our friends at ropeofsilicon:
Cruise is now loosely attached to a film called Food Fight for Working Title. The picture is described as 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.
Adam Brooks who wrote and directed the enjoyable film Definitely, Maybe is attached to write the screenplay. Good news already is that Drillbit Taylor helmer Steve Brill was originally in talks to direct, but that is no longer happening. The decision for Cruise to look at comedy has apparently come out of his much talked about performance in Tropic Thunder opening this Wednesday in which Cruise plays a balding, overweight, foul-mouthed studio exec.
Cruise ruled in Tropic Thunder, and I welcome his foray into comedy land. I think a film about a chef being demoted to high school cafeteria service could be very funny and if done right, could be as memorable as Summer School. The cafeteria chef was a winner for South Park (Issac Hays R.I.P.) and I think the comedic gold yet to be mined out of this occupation is great.
If Cruise can keep us laughing like he did in Tropic Thunder, then I see no need for him to go back to drama any time soon. I think this is a great move for him and will be an opportunity for long time fans to enjoy him in a different way. If this film sucks however, it will certainly kill the buzz he has gained coming out of Tropic Thunder.