This should come as no surprise to anyone who saw Borat. It’s a minor miracle that Sacha Baron Cohen managed to get that movie released with an R-rating, and now his next movie, Bruno, has been slapped with an NC-17.

According to The Wrap, the MPAA hit the movie with its kiss of death over scenes in which Bruno has anal sex with a man on camera. Also at issue is a hunting trip in which Bruno sneaks naked into the tent of “an unsuspecting non-actor”.

That doesn’t mean the movie will be released with an NC-17. Universal Pictures wants to make money off this thing and since many movie theaters refuse to show NC-17 movies that means they’ll either have to appeal the decision or make cuts in order to get it re-rated as an R. In an official statement issued by the studio, Universal reiterates: “On its first submission the film did not receive an R but it is far too early to say that there is any struggle to get there as the process is only at its inception.”

There’s a minor panic breaking out on the web over this, cries of censorship abound, but this is pretty much standard operating procedure in Hollywood. Don’t like it? Then call your local movie theater and convince them to start showing NC-17 movies. That’s the only way to change it. You can’t expect Hollywood to release movies no one will be able to see. In the meantime rest assured you will see Bruno in theaters, on time this July 10; perhaps slightly toned down from its current version… but probably not by much.