We now know when to expect an answer to the "Bruno: Borat-level triumph or $42 million Universal folly?" question eating at Hollywood since first learning that the studio had shelled out that unconscionable sum for a feature-length prankumentary starring the heterosexually-threatening Sacha Baron Cohen character. From Variety:

Universal will release the film on May 15, 2009. So far, there are no other R-rated comedies near that date.

Twentieth Century Fox’s “Borat” was a box office hit, grossing $128.5 million domestically in an early November release.

U believes “Borat” made Cohen enough of a household name to open “Bruno” in the high-profile summer sesh.

While it's true that Cohen has already proven his pedigree by selling America an unqualified blockbuster featuring little more than his signature, yak-herding cultural ambassador, Bruno still has its fair share of hurdles right out of the gate. For starters, the fashion correspondent's fey, Österreichian inflections might ultimately prove to be off-putting to the same masses who had initially warmed to the simple, everyman pleasures of Borat. Sure, Mr. Sagdiyev may have occasionally demonstrated an affinity for fist-shaped dildos and neon, nuthugger swimwear, but that was easily laughed off as eccentric-foreigner, not eccentric-queer-foreigner, behavior.

• Universal sets a date for 'Bruno' [Variety]

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