Bidding War Brews for Borat’s Bruno
First comes Borat, then comes Bruno, then comes the big bucks.
Sacha Baron Cohen has reportedly sparked a studio frenzy with the announcement that he will follow up his highly anticipated big-screen portrayal of the Jew-hating, incest-friendly, homophobic Borat with the equally brash, though slightly more palatable fashion reporter Bruno.
Here's hoping Austria has a better sense of humor than Kazakhstan.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Universal Pictures has leaped to the forefront of the bidding war over Cohen's next flick, offering more than $42 million for the worldwide distribution rights. The studio's bid reportedly puts it ahead of DreamWorks, Sony, 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros., all of which are vying for the comedy.
Apparently, timing really is everything.
The studios are making their wagers based solely on the presumption that Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, out Nov. 3, will be such a success that moviegoers will be clamoring for more from the English comedian.
Which, if the film's early buzz is any indication, they will be.
As of now, Bruno exists in theory only: There's no script, no director and no start date, though the Reporter says that Cohen is eyeing a summer 2007 production.
Like Borat, and Cohen's other comic alter ego, Ali G, Bruno was originally conceived on Da Ali G Show and will be the series' final character to make the jump to the big screen.
Though Bruno is much more likely to toast his new deal with a sip from an appletini than a chug of fermented horse's urine.
For those who don't know, Bruno is a leather-clad, faux-hawked and otherwise over-the-top gay fashionista who is endlessly on assignment and who fancies himself the "voice of Austrian youth TV."
One of his most popular segments from Da Ali G Show featured Bruno interviewing a Southern Baptist pastor who specializes in converting homosexuals. Bruno peppers the "gay-saver" with questions about what is acceptable manly behavior (approved with a hearty "ach-ya") and what is not (dismissed with a condescending "nish-nish").
Showering with men, eating brunch, watching Will & Grace and just generally "being fabulous," all are deemed "nish-nish" by the pastor.
Some of Bruno's other memorable reports include an investigation into wrestling in Daytona Beach and his fashion industry-skewering trend reports from New York and Los Angeles Fashion Weeks.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Borat producer Jay Roach will produce Bruno.
Universal Makes Date With Bruno
Bruno is all set to pull a Borat.
Universal has announced that Sasha Baron Cohen’s latest R-rated comedy romp, Brunofeaturing the funnyman as a flamboyant fashionista with a penchant for tight leather clothingwill sashay his way into theaters May 15, 2009.
The film marks Cohen’s follow-up to 2006’s Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, which raked in a glorious $128.5 million in domestic ticket sales and landed such phrases as “sexy time” and “is niiice!” into the pop-culture lexicon.
Bruno will have some fierce competition, going up against Angels & Demons, Sony’s prequel to The Da Vinci Code starring Tom Hanks. The following week will see Warner Bros.’ Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins and Fox’s Night at the Museum II: Escape From the Smithsonian.
No word yet on Bruno’s full title or plot, but there are signs the film will take its cues from its predecessor by following the titular character as he takes his show on the road. For example, video footage of Cohen in Bruno mode hamming it up with an unsuspecting public at a Kansas airport surfaced on the Internet a few months ago.
Sacha Baron Cohen & Isla Fisher’s Baby Due in Winter
Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen and his longtime girlfriend,
Australian actress Isla Fisher, are expecting a baby this winter, a source close to the couple confirms.
The couple, who have been together for about five years, attended Sunday’s MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles, with Fischer showing off her figure in a cream-colored dress – and often rubbing her belly.
Backstage, the couple smooched and greeted a steady stream of friends, one of whom one loudly exclaimed, “congratulations on the baby!” Cohen excitedly answered: “Thank you!”
Both Cohen, 35, and Fisher, 31, began their careers overseas. Cohen, who was born in England and educated at Cambridge, rose to fame in the late 1990s as the wannabe rapper Ali G on British television, and became familiar to U.S. audiences in 2003 when Da Ali G Show began airing on HBO. He became even more popular with the success of last year’s comedy, Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.
Fisher, who was raised in Australia, got her acting career rolling in the
mid-’90s on the Aussie soap opera Home and Away, but is best known in the United States as Vince Vaughn’s hyperactive love interest in Wedding Crashers.
She told a British newspaper in 2005: “Sacha makes me laugh more than anyone.”
Isla Fisher, Sacha Baron Cohen Welcome a Baby
A baby Borat is born: Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron Cohen have welcomed their first child, according to reports in Australia and Britain.
No further details were available. Reps for both stars had no comment.
Fisher’s pregnancy was first reported in June. The following month she said, “I haven’t got any plans to jump back into [work after the birth].”
Both Cohen, 36, and Fisher, 31, began their careers overseas. Cohen, who is best known for his controversial comedy, Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, originally rose to fame on British TV as the wannabe rapper Ali G, and became familiar to American audiences in 2003, when HBO began airing his Da Ali G Show.
Fisher, who was raised in Australia, kicked off her acting career in the mid-’90s on the Aussie soap opera Home & Away, but is better known internationally as Vince Vaughn’s hyperactive love interest in Wedding Crashers.
Fisher’s former Home & Away costar, Melissa George, told PEOPLE this week that Fisher will make a wonderful mother. “She’s the kindest, most beautiful woman. Like extraordinary, this girl. And she’s got great humor, an amazing sort of temperament.”
As for the sense of humor the baby might have, George said, “It’ll be a riot. How could it not?”
Fisher told a British newspaper in 2005: “Sacha makes me laugh more than anyone,” but this year admitted there are perils to maintaining the relationship.
“Instead of ’Hey, Honey, did you pick up the dry cleaning?,’ it was ’Did you get beaten up? Are you getting sued? Is there a warrant out for your arrest?’ ” she said, referring to Cohen’s work on Borat.
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