Spongebob will soon surface in Hollywood.
AFI Fest confirmed today that it will host the world premiere of The Spongebob Movie: Search for Squarepants from Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Movies on closing day, Oct. 26.
Produced in association with Domain Entertainment and MRC, the Derek Drymon-directed film follows everyone’s favorite underwater sponge as he sets out to prove his bravery to Mr. Krabs by following the Flying Dutchman on an adventure that takes him to the deepest depths of the deep sea where no sponge has been before. Tom Kenny, Clancy Brown, Rodger Bumpass, Bill Fagerbakke, Carolyn Lawrence, Mr. Lawrence, George Lopez, Ice Spice, Arturo Castro and Sherry Cola, with Regina Hall and Mark Hamill, lend their voices to the animated pic, which will be released Dec. 19.
Said AFI president and CEO Bob Gazzale: “Spongebob is an American icon – absorbent and yellow and porous is he — and AFI is honored to host this celebration under the sea.”
Also revealed today is a Los Angeles debut for the short film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Chrome Alone 2: Lost in New Jersey. Directed by Kent Seki and produced by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, Jeff Rowe and Ramsay McBean, the film follows the brothers as they follow the clues to New Jersey after a mysterious toy company seeks to profit off the turtles’ hero status.
AFI Fest, presented by Canva, will take place Oct. 22–26 at Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theatres. It will feature a selection of red carpet premiere screenings, special screenings, world cinema, documentaries and short films. The full lineup will be revealed Sept. 30. As previously announced, Guillermo del Toro is confirmed as guest artistic director. The fest will open with Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere starring Jeremy Allen White as the iconic rocker. Other high-profile premieres include Song Sung Blue starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson.