Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation have announced a packed new entry in the beloved SpongeBob film series. Regina Hall and rapper Ice Spice join a star-studded roster in The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, set to debut December 19, 2025.
Fresh Faces In Bikini Bottom
Actors Regina Hall, George Lopez, Sherry Cola, and Arturo Castro will lend their voices alongside Regina Hall and Ice Spice. According to Cinema Express, “Actors Regina Hall, Sherry Cola, Arturo Castro, George Lopez and Ice Spice have onboarded the cast.”
Ice Spice steps into the underwater world not only as a voice actor but as a musical contributor. She will perform an original song for the film’s soundtrack. “Ice Spice will also sing an original song for the film,” confirms Cinema Express.
Returning Familiar Voices
All the core SpongeBob cast return: Tom Kenny (SpongeBob), Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick), Rodger Bumpass (Squidward), Clancy Brown (Mr. Krabs), Carolyn Lawrence (Sandy), and Mr. Lawrence (Plankton). In addition, Mark Hamill reprises his role as the eerie Flying Dutchman.
Director Derek Drymon, a SpongeBob veteran, returned to helm the movie after being confirmed in April 2023 one year prior. The screenplay is written by Pam Brady and Matt Lieberman.
Undersea Adventure Awaits
The plot takes SpongeBob and friends to the ocean’s darkest depths. Their mission: confront the ghost of the Flying Dutchman and break his curse. Just Jared describes it this way: “the movie tells the story of ‘SpongeBob and [his] friends journeying to the depths of the ocean to face the ghost of the Flying Dutchman.’”
Ramsey Naito, President of Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation, introduced the new cast at the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival. He noted the studio’s packed schedule—while Search for SquarePants opens in December, other films like Smurfs, PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 2 are also in the pipeline.
A Blockbuster with Heart
Ice Spice’s involvement marks her second major film appearance and highlights a growing multimedia career. BET reports that the artist “is not only lending her voice … but she’s also providing a record to add to the film’s soundtrack.”
Meanwhile, Regina Hall brings her comedic presence, known from hits like Scary Movie and Nine Perfect Strangers, to this animated adventure. Her role remains a mystery, adding intrigue to the casting news.
The film will premiere in U.S. theaters on December 19, 2025.Fans can expect a whimsical underwater journey that honors the original characters while introducing fresh talent and tunes.