The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants
Directed by	Derek Drymon
Written by	Pam Brady (screenplay/story) Matt Lieberman (screenplay) Kaz (story) Andrew Goodman (story)
Produced by	Pam Brady Lisa Stewart Aaron Dem
Starring	Tom Kenny Bill Fagerbakke Clancy Brown Mark Hamill Rodger Bumpass Carolyn Lawrence Doug Lawrence
Cinematography	TBA
Music by	John Debney
Production companies	Nickelodeon Movies United Plankton Pictures Media Rights Capital Paramount Animation
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	December 19, 2025
Running time	TBA
Language	English
Country	United States
Film rating	PG
Preceded by	Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado Plankton: The Movie
Followed by	PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie Untitled Patrick Star spinoff film

And now, a look into your future. This article covers a topic that is yet to be released. Information in it is set to be changed over time.

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.

Characters

• SpongeBob SquarePants
• Patrick Star
• Squidward Tentacles
• Eugene H. Krabs
• Sandy Cheeks
• Sheldon J. Plankton
• Flying Dutchman

Production

On April 17, 2023, it was announced that Reel FX Animation would be animating the film.

On April 27, 2023, the title and plot were revealed.

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.

On June 2, 2024, the movie had its very first screening in front of an audience, in the Paramount Picture's lot.

On July 25, 2024, it was announced during San Diego Comic-Con 2024 that Mark Hamill would be voicing the Flying Dutchman.

In November 2024, Jason Reicher finished his storyboard plussing on the movie. He started in February 2023.

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. Another live-action scene was also present in the trailer, showcasing Mark Hamill playing a live-action Flying Dutchman.

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."

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 will be shown at the 2025 Annecy International Film Festival, in June 2025.

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.
• 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.
• 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.
• This is the first movie since The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie to have SquarePants in the title and a lifeguard ring in the logo.
• 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.