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The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants is the fourth feature film based on SpongeBob SquarePants, set for release on December 19, 2025.
Plot[]
The film goes to the deepest depths of the ocean where SpongeBob will face off against the Flying Dutchman.
Cast[]
- Tom Kenny as SpongeBob SquarePants, Gary the Snail
- Bill Fagerbakke as Patrick Star
- Rodger Bumpass as Squidward Tentacles
- Clancy Brown as Eugene H. Krabs
- Carolyn Lawrence as Sandy Cheeks
- Doug Lawrence as Sheldon J. Plankton
- Mark Hamill as Flying Dutchman
- Regina Hall as Barb
- Sherry Cola as TBA
- Arturo Castro as TBA
- George Lopez as TBA
- Ice Spice as TBA
Production[]
On April 17, 2023, it was announced that Reel FX Animation would be animating the film.[1]
On April 27, 2023, the title and plot were revealed.[2]
On October 23, 2023, the film's release date was delayed from May 23, 2025 to December 19 of that year due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.
On April 11, 2024, the logo was officially revealed on the SpongeBob Movie twitter account, with the account's name being renamed to the movie's name, and the description being changed to promote the movie. [3]
On June 2, 2024, the movie had its very first screening in front of an audience, in the Paramount Picture's lot.[4]
On July 25, 2024, it was announced during San Diego Comic-Con 2024 that Mark Hamill would be voicing the Flying Dutchman.[5][6]
In November 2024, Jason Reicher finished his storyboard plussing on the movie. He started in February 2023.[7]
On April 3, 2025, a trailer for the movie was shown at Cinemacon 2025. According to the audience who saw the footages, it starts with a live-action pirate, played by Clancy Brown, telling the tale of a curse that can be lifted by finding the world's most innocent soul, who happens to be SpongeBob himself. It then cut to SpongeBob waking up and measuring his height. He then proclaimed to be a "big guy" and started playing the song "The Next Episode" by Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre, while lifting his plush weights. He then meets up with Patrick. and he also sees Plankton trying to steal the Krabby Patty secret formula. Another scene then shows Mr. Krabs telling SpongeBob about his days as a sailor, leading SpongeBob to want to be just like Mr. Krabs and to go on an adventure on his own. SpongeBob and Patrick then cross-path with the Flying Dutchman where he takes them to the Underworld in order for SpongeBob to prove his worth.[8][9][10] Another live-action scene was also present in the trailer, showcasing Mark Hamill playing a live-action Flying Dutchman.[11]
Tom Kenny and Mark Hamill were present on stage when talking about the movie at Cinemacon 2025, with Tom describing the film as a "Coming of age story."[12]
In April 2025, it was reported that John Debney would compose the film's score, after having previously composed the score for The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015).
A first look at the movie was shown at the 2025 Annecy International Film Festival, on June 10, 2025. Along with the screening of the short "SpongeBob: Order Up!", which will play in front of Smurfs. Ice Spice, Regina Hall, Sherry Cola, Arturo Castro and George Lopez were also all announced to be part of the voice cast, with Ice Spice composing a song for the movie.
On June 11, 2025, it was announced at the 2025 Annecy International Film Festival that a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem short titled "Chrome Alone 2: Lost in New Jersey", which was screened at the festival, will play in front of this film.
According to Derek Drymon, he wanted to recapture the spirit of the first season and was thankful of Paramount for "backing a creator-led project." The movie was also stated to blend 3D animation with "cutting-edge 2D."
Paramount Pictures released the teaser trailer for the film on July 9, 2025.
The film had its wrap party on July 11, 2025, at the United Theater.
According to Derek Drymon on Instagram, the movie first started with a script but "a lot of reimagining" happened during storyboarding phase.
On November 12, 2025, it was announced that the second trailer for the film would be released the following day.
Trivia[]
- This movie will mark the first piece of media in the franchise in which the Flying Dutchman is not voiced by Brian Doyle-Murray, instead being voiced by Mark Hamill. His voice actor, Mark Hamill, also previously did the voice of The Moth in the Season 5 episode "Night Light" eighteen years before this movie premiered.
- This will be the first film to be release theatrically worldwide in 10 years since The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water due to The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run releasing on Paramount+ instead because of the COVID-19 pandemic happening around that time.
- Due to his passing from ALS on November 26, 2018, this is the first mainline SpongeBob SquarePants movie to not have series creator Stephen Hillenburg involved in production in any way, shape, or form.
- The movie's plot confirms SpongeBob is traveling through the underworld to see the Flying Dutchman.
- This is similar to Legend of the Lost Spatula.
- This is the second movie in the series to have John Debney handle the score, the first being The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water.
- Snoop Dogg, whose one of his songs were used in this film, had previously starred in the previous film, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run, where he had portrayed The Gambler. Coincidentally enough, this reveals that both Snoop Dogg and The Gambler co-exist in the SpongeBob SquarePants universe.
- The film was rated PG "for rude humor, action, and some scary images" from the Motion Picture Association.
Gallery[]
Videos[]
References[]
- ↑ https://twitter.com/wearereelfx/status/1647978360599982084
- ↑ https://twitter.com/discussingfilm/status/1651644651055480832
- ↑ https://x.com/SpongeBobMovie/status/1778473438396756283
- ↑ https://x.com/ArtofSpongebob/status/1797648084274724944
- ↑ https://www.animationmagazine.net/2024/07/sdcc-spongebob-panel-announces-mark-hamill-for-new-movie-new-special-saving-bikini-bottom-clip-revealed/
- ↑ https://x.com/ToonHive/status/1816581303426499014
- ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-reicher-757a48ab/
- ↑ https://discussingfilm.net/2025/04/03/cinemacon-2025-paramount-updates/
- ↑ https://x.com/screenrant/status/1907853336142843986
- ↑ https://x.com/DEADLINE/status/1907852719379067169
- ↑ https://x.com/TheEricGoldman/status/1907852972157210996?s=19
- ↑ https://x.com/HollywoodHandle/status/1907851770291691944