Bruno Movie

Sacha Baron Cohen's "Borat" has grossed more than $100 million at the box office, but can the British comedian pull off another "mockumentary," this time in the guise of a gay Austrian fashionista? Universal Pictures has bet $42.5 million that he can. Before "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" became a box-office sensation, Universal agreed to pay the hefty premium for the actor's next film, "Bruno," which it will market and distribute.

After he offended the entire nation of Kazakhstan, the Los Angeles Unified School District was apparently child's play for comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. Cohen, in his new guise as gay Austrian fashionista "Bruno," appears in a cover story in the latest issue of GQ magazine that includes a photo shoot with the Birmingham High School football team.

Universal Pictures will release a tamer version of its Sacha Baron Cohen comedy "Bruno" in Britain alongside the currently playing film in hopes of attracting a bigger audience that includes teens 15 and older. When Universal releases the toned-down "Bruno" on July 24, it will be the first time two versions of the same movie will be shown concurrently in Britain, said David Kosse, president of Universal Pictures International.