Update - Below is ViacomCBS' official press release announcing the news:
ViacomCBS Announces Exclusive Digital Release for “THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE ON THE RUN”
The Film, from Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies, Will Debut with a Premium VOD Window, Followed by Exclusive Availability on CBS All Access in the U.S. in early 2021
All prior seasons of SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS will also launch on CBS All Access As Part of the Service’s Ongoing Expansion Leading Up to Its Rebranding in Early 2021
NEW YORK--June 22, 2020--ViacomCBS Inc. (Nasdaq: VIACA, VIAC) (“ViacomCBS”) today announced the latest feature film in the SpongeBob franchise, THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE ON THE RUN, will debut digitally in the U.S via premium video on demand in early 2021 and then move exclusively to CBS All Access, ViacomCBS’ subscription video on demand and live-streaming service, following the premium video on demand window. The movie will debut on the service as part of CBS All Access’ ongoing transformation into an expanded service spanning key franchise content from across ViacomCBS.
“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," said Marc DeBevoise, Chief Digital Officer, ViacomCBS and President & Chief Executive Officer, ViacomCBS Digital. “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.”
In addition to THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE ON THE RUN, all prior seasons of SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS will also be available on the expanded service soon.
“I’m incredibly proud of this film, and the phenomenal cast and filmmaking team that made it happen,” said Mireille Soria, President of Paramount Animation. “Bringing this movie to life was a true collaboration and labor of love, and I’m thrilled for audiences to enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it.”
Said Ramsey Naito, Executive Vice President, Nickelodeon Animation Production and Development: “We’re happy to give kids and families a much-deserved lift in any way we can, and the PVOD release of the new SpongeBob theatrical and putting all seasons of the TV series on CBS All Access are two of the best ways I can think of to get immersed in the optimism and joy that this terrific character represents.”
THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE ON THE RUN, follows SpongeBob SquarePants, his best friend Patrick Star and the rest of the gang from Bikini Bottom in the first-ever all CGI SpongeBob motion picture event. After SpongeBob’s beloved pet snail Gary is snail-napped, he and Patrick embark on an epic adventure to The Lost City of Atlantic City to bring Gary home. As they navigate the delights and dangers on this perilous and hilarious rescue mission, SpongeBob and his pals prove there’s nothing stronger than the power of friendship.
Directed by Tim Hill, voice cast of THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE ON THE RUN includes Tom Kenny, Awkwafina, Clancy Brown, Rodger Bumpass, Bill Fagerbakke, Carolyn Lawrence, Douglas Lawrence and Reggie Watts.
About ViacomCBS:
ViacomCBS (NASDAQ: VIAC; VIACA) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Driven by iconic consumer brands, its portfolio includes CBS, Showtime Networks, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, CBS All Access, Pluto TV and Simon & Schuster, among others. The company delivers the largest share of the U.S. television audience and boasts one of the industry’s most important and extensive libraries of TV and film titles. In addition to offering innovative streaming services and digital video products, ViacomCBS provides powerful capabilities in production, distribution and advertising solutions for partners on five continents.
For more information about ViacomCBS, please visit
www.viacomcbs.com and follow @ViacomCBS on social platforms.
About CBS All Access:
CBS All Access is ViacomCBS’ direct-to-consumer digital subscription video on-demand and live streaming service. CBS All Access gives subscribers the ability to watch more than 15,000 episodes on demand – spanning exclusive original series, CBS Television Network’s primetime, daytime and late night shows, plus classic TV hits – as well as the ability to stream local CBS stations live across the U.S. CBS All Access’ original series include THE GOOD FIGHT, THE TWILIGHT ZONE, TOONING OUT THE NEWS, NO ACTIVITY, WHY WOMEN KILL, INTERROGATION and TELL ME A STORY, as well as the upcoming event series THE STAND, THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH, THE HARPER HOUSE and GUILTY PARTY. CBS All Access is also the exclusive domestic home to STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, STAR TREK: PICARD and the upcoming animated series STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS and the U.S.S Enterprise set series STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS. CBS All Access also includes the ability to stream CBS Interactive’s other live channels, CBSN for 24/7 news, CBS Sports HQ for sports news and analysis, and ET Live for entertainment coverage.
The service is currently available online at CBS.com, on mobile devices via the CBS app for iOS and Android, and on Roku Players, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Fire TV, Samsung Smart TVs, Vizio Smartcast TVs, LG Smart TVs, Amazon Prime Video Channels and Apple TV channels. Versions of CBS All Access have now launched internationally in Canada and Australia (10 All Access), with unique but similar content and pricing plans. For more details on CBS All Access, please visit
https://www.cbs.com/all-access.
About Paramount Pictures Corporation:
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of ViacomCBS (NASDAQ: VIAC; VIACA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Television, and Paramount Players. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.
About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, now in its 41st year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location-based experiences, publishing and feature films. For more information or artwork, visit
http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of ViacomCBS Inc. (Nasdaq: VIACA, VIAC).
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Update (6/23) - As for international fans, Paramount has
stated of an international release: "After the decision by ViacomCBS to premier our film domestically on their service, we are re-formulating plans for international distribution, but at this time we will not be distributing the film theatrically internationally."
Original post:
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run, Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies’ animated adventure based on the absorbent underwater fry cook, is skipping its planned theatrical debut,
Variety has learnt. It will instead launch on premium digital rental services before landing exclusively on CBS All Access — the streaming service owned by the studio’s parent company, ViacomCBS — in the U.S. in early 2021.
It was originally slated to hit the big screen on May 22, but was postponed until Aug. 7 due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Paramount's international release strategy for
SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run has yet to be announced.
It's currently unknown whether Nickelodeon will go ahead with the premiere of
Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years this summer. The first spin-off from
SpongeBob SquarePants, the CG-animated prequel (13 episodes) follows 10-year-old SpongeBob during his summer at sleepaway camp, building underwater campfires, catching wild jellyfish, and swimming in Lake Yuckymuck at the craziest camp in the kelp forest, Kamp Koral.
Sponge on the Run is also
slated to feature flashback scenes of SpongeBob at Camp Coral.
“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,” said Marc DeBevoise, chief digital officer at ViacomCBS and president and CEO of ViacomCBS Digital. “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.”
All prior seasons of
SpongeBob SquarePants will be available on CBS All Access as part of its ongoing expansion. The move comes as ViacomCBS plans to integrate its many networks into one “House of Brands” streaming product. In May, ViacomCBS CEO Bob Bakish announced that CBS All Access would undergo rebranding to incorporate more of the company’s cable brands and library programming, including Paramount Pictures’s vast film catalog and Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, Smithsonian and MTV channels.
“I’m incredibly proud of this film, and the phenomenal cast and filmmaking team that made it happen,” said Mireille Soria, president of Paramount Animation. “Bringing this movie to life was a true collaboration and labor of love, and I’m thrilled for audiences to enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it.”
Adds Ramsey Naito, executive VP of Nickelodeon Animation Production and Development, “We’re incredibly happy to give kids and families a much-deserved lift in any way we can, and the PVOD release of the new
SpongeBob theatrical and putting all seasons of the TV series on CBS All Access are two of the best ways I can think of to get immersed in the optimism and joy that this terrific character represents.”
Numerous movies — including Universal’s
Trolls World Tour and
The King of Staten Island, Warner Bros. animated adventure
Scoob and Disney’s
Artemis Fowl — have opted to forgo traditional theatrical releases since cinemas across the country closed in mid-March to help stop the spread of coronavirus. Paramount recently sold its romantic comedy
The Lovebirds to Netflix given the uncertainty over when theaters might reopen. It was also supposed to release Aaron Sorkin’s
The Trial of the Chicago 7 this fall, but Netflix is negotiating a deal to buy that movie from Cross Creek Pictures, the film’s financier.
AMC, Regal and Cinemark, the three biggest theater chains, all plan to resume business sometime in July. Hollywood studios have mostly cleared their calendars through summer, but a handful of new movies are expected to greet moviegoers when multiplexes reopen next month. Disney’s
Mulan on July 24 will be the first major release, followed by Christopher Nolan’s
Tenet on July 31. Two smaller titles will open first: Russell Crowe’s thriller
Unhinged on July 10, and Sony Pictures’ rom-com
The Broken Hearts Gallery on July 17. Sony Pictures
moved Ghostbusters: Afterlife to a March 21, 2021 debut from its July, 10 release
sees best friends SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star venture out of Bikini Bottom and head to the Lost City of Atlantic City on a rescue mission to save SpongeBob’s trustee snail Gary. Its the third
SpongeBob film, after 2004’s
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie and 2015’s
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water. Those movies were commercially successful, earning over $450 million globally combined.
In
Sponge on the Run, after SpongeBob’s beloved pet snail Gary is snail-napped, he and Patrick embark on an epic adventure to The Lost City of Atlantic City to bring Gary home. As they navigate the delights and dangers on this perilous and hilarious rescue mission, SpongeBob and his pals prove there’s nothing stronger than the power of friendship.
Sponge on the Run will see the cast of
SpongeBob SquarePants reprise their respective roles: Tom Kenny (SpongeBob and Gary), Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick Star), Rodger Bumpass (Squidward), Carolyn Lawrence (Sandy), Clancy Brown (Mr. Krabs), Douglas Lawrence (Plankton), Jill Talley (Karen), Mary Jo Catlett (Mrs. Puff), and Lori Alan (Pearl). An actor named Antonio Raul Corbo will be voicing young SpongeBob.
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run will feature a raft of guest stars, including: Keanu Reeves (as a tumbleweed named Sage), Awkwafina, Reggie Watts and Snoop Dog. Cyndi Lauper (
The SpongeBob Musical) has written original songs for the film.
Based on the TV series created by Stephen Hillenburg,
The SpongeBob Movie is written and directed by Tim Hill, and produced by Ryan Harris, with Stephen Hillenburg exec producing. Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Movies present, in association with MRC A United Plankton Pictures production.
More Nick: Nickelodeon Announces Voice Cast for 'Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years', First-Ever 'SpongeBob SquarePants' Spinoff!
Originally published: Monday, June 22, 2020 at 20:51 BST.
Additional sources: Decider, Deadline, Just Jared Jr., Armenian American Reporter; Press release via Business Wire.
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