The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants explained
The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants is an upcoming American animated adventure comedy film based on the television series SpongeBob SquarePants, created by Stephen Hillenburg. The film is directed by series veteran Derek Drymon and stars the show's regular voice cast alongside Mark Hamill. The plot follows SpongeBob as he travels to the depths of the ocean to face off against the ghost of the Flying Dutchman. It is the fourth theatrical film based on the series, following the first in 2004, the second in 2015, and the third in 2020.
Development on a fourth main SpongeBob film had begun by February 2022. By April 2023, Drymon had been hired to direct the film. The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants will be released theatrically on December 19, 2025, by Paramount Pictures.
Premise
The film follows SpongeBob, as he travels to the depths of the ocean to face off against the ghost of the Flying Dutchman.
Voice cast
See also: List of SpongeBob SquarePants characters.
Production
A fourth theatrical SpongeBob SquarePants film was officially confirmed to be development in February 2022.[3] In April 2023, during Paramount Pictures' CinemaCon panel, it was announced that the film would be titled The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, with series veteran Derek Drymon set to direct the film.[4] In April 2024, it was reported that the show's regular voice cast of Tom Kenny, Clancy Brown, Rodger Bumpass, Bill Fagerbakke, Carolyn Lawrence, and Mr. Lawrence would reprise their roles. Pam Brady and Lisa Stewart would serve as producers. At San Diego Comic-Con in July 2024, Mark Hamill announced that he would play the Flying Dutchman, replacing original actor Brian Doyle-Murray.[5]
Release
The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants is scheduled for theatrical release on December 19, 2025, by Paramount Pictures.[6] It was previously scheduled for May 23, 2025,[7] but was pushed back to December 19, 2025 with the untitled eighth Mission: Impossible film taking the May 2025 slot due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.
Notes and References
- Web site: Gardner . Chris . April 11, 2024 . 'The Smurfs Movie' Sets Starry Cast to Join Rihanna; Dave Bautista, Eric Nam Board 'Airbender' Franchise . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240411195605/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/the-smurfs-movie-cast-rihanna-1235871717/ . April 11, 2024 . April 11, 2024 . . en-US.
- Web site: Stephan . Katcy . July 25, 2024 . Mark Hamill Joins The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants as The Flying Dutchman . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240726014132/https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/spongebob-squarepants-comic-con-panel-1236083257/ . July 26, 2024 . July 25, 2024 . . en-US.
- Web site: D'Alessandro . Anthony . February 15, 2022 . SpongeBob Universe Expands With Three Paramount+ Spinoff Movies, New Theatrical Film . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220217061824/https://deadline.com/2022/02/spongebob-squarepants-paramount-plus-movies-theatrical-1234933589/ . February 17, 2022 . February 15, 2022 . Deadline Hollywood.
- Web site: Welk . Brian . April 27, 2023 . Paramount Gets Animated with CinemaCon Presentation . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230427185711/https://www.indiewire.com/2023/04/spongebob-squarepants-4-transformers-one-animated-cast-1234833032/ . April 27, 2023 . April 27, 2023 . IndieWire.
- Web site: Sherlock . Ben . July 25, 2024 . Mark Hamill's New SpongeBob SquarePants Movie Role Reveals OG Character Has Been Recast After 25 Years . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240726022159/https://screenrant.com/spongebob-squarepants-movie-2025-flying-dutchman-mark-hamill-recast/ . July 26, 2024 . July 28, 2024 . . en.
- Web site: D'Alessandro . Anthony . October 23, 2023 . Mission: Impossible 8 Jumps To 2025; A Quiet Place: Day One Goes To Summer In 2024 Theatrical Shake-Up Due To Actors Strike . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231102213708/https://deadline.com/2023/10/mission-impossible-dead-reckoning-part-2-quiet-place-day-one-actors-strike-1235580981/ . November 2, 2023 . October 23, 2023 . Deadline Hollywood.
- Web site: D'Alessandro . Anthony . November 10, 2022 . Paramount Sets Dates For New SpongeBob & Aang Avatar Animated Movies . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221110222823/https://deadline.com/2022/11/spongebob-squarepants-aang-avatar-animation-movies-release-dates-1235169468/ . November 10, 2022 . November 10, 2022 . Deadline Hollywood.