Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Movies released the first teaser trailer for “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants” on 9 July, confirming that the CG-animated feature will open exclusively in U.S. cinemas on 19 December 2025. The story follows SpongeBob on a deep-sea quest to prove his bravery to Mr. Krabs by pursuing the ghost pirate Flying Dutchman, now voiced by Mark Hamill. Long-time series actors Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, Rodger Bumpass, Clancy Brown, Carolyn Lawrence and Mr. Lawrence reprise their roles, while George Lopez, rapper Ice Spice, Arturo Castro, Sherry Cola and Regina Hall join the voice cast. Derek Drymon, a veteran writer on the original series, makes his feature directorial debut from a screenplay by Pam Brady and Matt Lieberman. “Search for SquarePants” is the fourth SpongeBob theatrical installment and the franchise’s first wide cinema release since 2015’s “Sponge Out of Water,” which opened to $55 million domestically. Produced by Lisa Stewart, Pam Brady and Aaron Dem, the new film carries a PG rating for rude humor, mild language and thematic elements.