SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run Forgoing Theatrical Release

After being one of the multiple movies to be delayed due to the global pandemic earlier this year, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run is joining the likes of Scoob! and Trolls World Tour to skip a theatrical release and head straight to on demand instead, according to Variety.

The third installment in the film franchise of the hit Nickelodeon series had originally been slated for a May 22 release before being delayed until August 7 and though many studios, such as Warner Bros., are holding out hope that cinemas will be ready to go come the next two months, Paramount is choosing to play it safe and skip the theatrical release. In addition to on demand, the film will follow up the digital release by heading to stream exclusively on ViacomCBS’ platform CBS All Access in the States in early 2021.

“We are thrilled to have The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run, a premier, first-run movie from one of ViacomCBS’ biggest brands, join CBS All Access’ expanding slate of franchise content from across ViacomCBS,” Marc DeBevoise, chief digital officer at ViacomCBS and president and CEO of ViacomCBS Digital, said in a statement. “This launch will be perfectly timed with our continued expansion and planned rebranding of the service in early 2021, as we welcome SpongeBob and the gang from Bikini Bottom to the service in the biggest way possible.”

The film, previously titled It’s a Wonderful Sponge, will be the first 3D computer-animated SpongeBob movie, which is being described as a love letter to SpongeBob’s original creator Steven Hillenburg, who passed away last November, as well as the fans of the show, not to mention the fictional residents of Bikini Bottom.

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run will feature a score by Hans Zimmer and original songs by Ali Dee. The film will also be featuring the voices of Awkwafina (Crazy Rich Asians) and Reggie Watts (Tuca & Bertie). In addtion, pop star legend Cyndi Lauper and co-writer Rob Hyman are working on original songs for the film. It is being produced by Paramount Animation in collaboration with Nickelodeon Movies and United Plankton Pictures.

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Since its debut in 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants has become the most widely distributed property in Viacom International Media Networks history, seen in more than 208 countries and territories, translated in 55+ languages, and averaging more than 100 million total viewers every quarter. This marks the third feature-length Spongebob adventure, after 2004’s The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie, and 2015’s Sponge Out of Water.

The project is being directed by Tim Hill and produced by Ryan Harris with choreography by Mia Michaels