The SpongeBob Movie: Battle for Bikini Bottom

The SpongeBob Movie: Battle for Bikini Bottom is an upcoming animated action-adventure comedy film based on the animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants. The fourth theatrical SpongeBob film in the franchise, the regular cast are going to reprise their roles from the series and the previous films. This film, based on the hit SpongeBob video game, Battle for Bikini Bottom, released in 2003, features SpongeBob as he goes on a quest to save Bikini Bottom from a robot invasion that he thinks he caused.

Paramount announced that a fourth theatrical SpongeBob film was in development back in February 2022, and later the next month, Paramount announced that the film will be an adaptation of the game Battle for Bikini Bottom. Paramount Animation, Nickelodeon Movies, and United Plankton Pictures will produce this film. Like the first movie, this movie will be traditionally animated for the most part.

The SpongeBob Movie: Battle for Bikini Bottom is scheduled to be released for theatrical release in the United States on July 19, 2024, by Paramount Pictures.

Premise
SpongeBob and Patrick purchase a magic wishing shell toy and use it on a toy robot. Meanwhile, Plankton builds an army of robots in an effort to steal the Krabby Patty secret formula, only for them to turn on him and cause destruction in Bikini Bottom. SpongeBob thinks he caused this and vows to stop this robot invasion and save Bikini Bottom. With the help of Patrick and Sandy, SpongeBob must travel throughout the ocean floor to collect six Golden Spatulas that could save Bikini Bottom.

Cast

 * Tom Kenny as SpongeBob SquarePants and Gary the Snail
 * Bill Fagerbakke as Patrick Star
 * Carolyn Lawrence as Sandy Cheeks
 * Rodger Bumpass as Squidward Tentacles
 * Clancy Brown as Mr. Krabs
 * Mr. Lawrence as Plankton
 * Jill Talley as Karen

Additionally, Liam Neeson has been cast in an undisclosed role.

Production
A fourth theatrical SpongeBob was announced back in February 2022. A month later, it was announced that the film will be an adaptation of Battle for Bikini Bottom, with the title revealed to be The SpongeBob Movie: Battle for Bikini Bottom, fittingly.

According to the film's co-producer Vincent Waller, the film will have a more serious edge to it, while maintaining its cartoony humor and slapstick that the franchise is known for. He also mentioned that the film will feature a "boatload of fan service and references to the show".

Animation
The film was initially going to be computer animated by Mikros Image, much like its predecessor, Sponge on the Run. But due to the positive reception that The Bob's Burgers Movie, another recent traditionally animated film, has gotten, the film will be traditionally animated.

Release
The SpongeBob Movie: Battle for Bikini Bottom is scheduled for theatrical release by Paramount Pictures on July 19, 2024, in the United States. The film was originally going to be released on December 8, 2023, but it was pushed to its current release date on August 15, 2022.

Future
On February 1, 2023, following the success of the SpongeBob SquarePants video game, The Cosmic Shake, Paramount and Nickelodeon were interested in doing a film adaptation of the aforementioned game, if Battle for Bikini Bottom performs well in the box office.