SpongeBob Movie: Sponge On The Run is skipping movie theatres and will be released digitally in early 2021
SpongeBob SquarePants fans are going to have to wait a lot longer to see the new movie in the kid-friendly franchise.
The animated feature had been due for release on May 22 but was pushed back to August 7 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
On Monday, however, Paramount and Nickelodeon announced that The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge On The Run will not be released in theaters after all; instead, it will be made available for digital rental in early 2021 before streaming on subscription service CBS All Access.
Not coming soon: SpongeBob SquarePants fans are going to have to wait a lot longer to see the new movie in the kid-friendly franchise after its August 7 theatrical release was scrapped
Sponge on the Run features the voice talents of Keanu Reeves, Snoop Dogg and Awkwafina alongside the regular Spongebob crew of Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, Rodger Bumpass and Clancy Brown.
In the movie, Spongebob’s beloved snail Gary is kidnapped and he and pal Patrick Star leave Bikini Bottom and head to the Lost City Of Atlantic City to try and rescue him.
It’s the third film to be based on the hugely popular animated TV series that debuted on Nickelodeon in 1999.
It follows 2004’s The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie and 2015’s The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water.
Change: Paramount and Nickelodeon announced Monday SpongeBob Movie: Sponge On The Run will be made available for digital rental in early 2021 before streaming on CBS All Access
Fun: Sponge on the Run features the voice talents of Keanu Reeves (pictured) alongside the regular Spongebob crew of Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, Rodger Bumpass and Clancy Brown
Animated adventure: In the movie, Spongebob’s beloved snail Gary is kidnapped and he and pal Patrick Star leave Bikini Bottom and head to the Lost City Of Atlantic City to rescue him
CBS All Access has also acquired all of the TV seasons of the cartoon for streaming as part of a revamp announced last month.
The streaming service is rebranding and seeking to incorporate more films and programming from ViacomCBS’ vast catalog which includes Paramount Pictures, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, BET, Smithsonian and MTV channels.
A number of Hollywood movies, including Universal’s Trolls World Tour, Warner Bros. animated adventure Scoob and Disney’s Artemis Fowl, have headed to digital and skip a theatrical release after movie theatres across the U.S. were closed in March due to COVID-19.