Convention - SDCC 2025 Málaga : The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants connects creators and fans across oceans

By Mulder, Málaga, Palacio de Ferias y Congresos, 28 september 2025

When the sunlit halls of the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos in Málaga opened their doors to San Diego Comic-Con Málaga 2025, few panels captured the warmth and color of pop culture as brightly as the celebration of The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants. On September 28, fans of the eternally cheerful sponge were treated to an encounter that connected Bikini Bottom to Spain in a way never seen before. At the heart of it all was Derek Drymon, a veteran of the SpongeBob universe and the creative mind entrusted with directing this new cinematic chapter. His presence gave the panel the aura of a homecoming, as if one of the guardians of Stephen Hillenburg’s original creation had stepped off the animated screen to share secrets of the deep with devoted fans. The anecdotal stories he recounted—from the trials of finding the right emotional tone for SpongeBob’s journey to the cultural elasticity of its humor—set the stage for an event that blended nostalgia with fresh revelations.

Adding a uniquely Spanish dimension to the gathering, Alex Saudinós, the longtime voice of SpongeBob in the European Spanish dub, lit up the stage with the same infectious energy he brings to the recording booth. Sitting beside him, César Díaz Capilla, who voices Patrick Star in Spain, brought out laughs as he recounted the challenges of adapting Patrick’s endearing absurdity to Spanish audiences without losing the whimsical cadence that defines him. Their presence underlined the role of dubbing as more than mere translation: it is a cultural bridge, one that allows SpongeBob’s antics to resonate across borders while preserving the playful soul that Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, and the rest of the original cast cemented over decades. This lively synergy between the American creative lead and the Spanish voices demonstrated how SpongeBob has evolved into a truly global icon, one who can unite audiences from Nickelodeon’s Burbank studios to households in Málaga with the same catchphrases and belly laughs.

Beyond the panel, excitement brewed around The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants itself, which represents the franchise’s fourth major theatrical outing. Directed by Derek Drymon and penned by Pam Brady and Matt Lieberman from a story developed with Marc Ceccarelli and Kaz, the film is both a continuation and a reinvention. It follows SpongeBob’s quest to prove his bravery to Mr. Krabs, leading him to confront the legendary Flying Dutchman in the abyssal depths of the ocean. For longtime viewers, the narrative doubles as a rite of passage, an allegory of courage that echoes the core values embedded by Stephen Hillenburg when he launched the series. Yet, what truly elevates the anticipation is the star-studded cast expansion: along with the returning veterans Tom Kenny, Clancy Brown, Rodger Bumpass, Bill Fagerbakke, Carolyn Lawrence, and Mr. Lawrence, the film introduces fresh voices including George Lopez, Ice Spice, Arturo Castro, Sherry Cola, Regina Hall, and, perhaps most tantalizingly, Mark Hamill as the new Flying Dutchman, stepping in for Brian Doyle-Murray. The casting of Hamill, a master of villainous intonations, was revealed in a Comic-Con moment in 2024 that already feels legendary among fans.

The panel also teased the film’s impressive creative team behind the camera. With production overseen by Lisa Stewart, Pam Brady, and Aaron Dem, and visual wizardry guided by cinematographer Peter Lyons Collister and editor Wyatt Jones, the movie is poised to balance comedy, spectacle, and emotional depth. Music, too, will play a central role, with returning composer John Debney, who previously scored The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015), once again diving into Bikini Bottom’s sonic world. Adding a modern touch, Ice Spice will contribute an original song to the soundtrack, a move that hints at the film’s intention to bridge SpongeBob’s classic sensibilities with contemporary pop culture trends. The decision to accompany the feature with the animated short Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Chrome Alone 2: Lost in New Jersey further signals Paramount’s strategy of pairing iconic franchises in ways that maximize audience joy.

What makes the anticipation around The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants particularly resonant is its timing. Originally slated for May 2025 but delayed due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, its new release date of December 19, 2025, situates it as a holiday event movie, following a prestigious premiere at the AFI Film Festival on October 26. Fans who gathered in Málaga couldn’t help but reflect on how far SpongeBob has come since 1999: from an offbeat Nickelodeon cartoon to a cultural touchstone whose influence spans television, film, music, memes, and even theme parks. One attendee remarked that hearing Alex Saudinós’s live rendition of SpongeBob’s laugh while Derek Drymon chuckled alongside him was like watching two halves of the same character meet for the first time. It captured the essence of what makes SpongeBob timeless—his ability to feel personal to each culture while still universal in spirit.

As the panel wrapped, the applause felt less like polite appreciation and more like a genuine outpouring of affection for a character who has navigated childhoods, adolescence, and even adulthood without losing relevance. The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants now carries the weight of that legacy, but if the passion displayed in Málaga is any indication, it is ready to deliver. On Spanish shores, SpongeBob didn’t just announce a new film—he reminded fans why a sponge in a pineapple can still make the world laugh in unison. And with Derek Drymon, Alex Saudinós, and César Díaz Capilla leading the charge, the journey from Bikini Bottom to Málaga was more than a promotional stop. It was a reaffirmation that some stories—especially those filled with bubbles, jellyfish, and nautical nonsense—are destined to ripple far beyond the sea.

Synopsis :
SpongeBob and his friends from Bikini Bottom set sail for their biggest adventure yet on the big screen: The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants. Determined to prove to Mr. Krabs that he is now a big boy, Bob sets out on the trail of the legendary Flying Dutchman, a fearsome ghost pirate. Set sail for a crazy adventure filled with laughter, thrills, and underwater escapades, all the way to the most mysterious depths of the ocean—where no sponge has ever dared to dive!

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants
Directed by Derek Drymon
Written by Pam Brady, Matt Lieberman
Story by Marc Ceccarelli, Kaz, Pam Brady
Based on SpongeBob SquarePants by Stephen Hillenburg
Produced by Lisa Stewart, Pam Brady, Aaron Dem
Starring Tom Kenny, Clancy Brown, Rodger Bumpass, Bill Fagerbakke, Carolyn Lawrence, Mr. Lawrence, George Lopez, Ice Spice, Arturo Castro, Sherry Cola, Regina Hall, Mark Hamill
Cinematography : Peter Lyons Collister
Edited by Wyatt Jones
Music by John Debney
Production companies : Paramount Animation, Nickelodeon Movies
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release dates : October 26, 2025 (AFI Film Festival), December 19, 2025 (United States), December 24, 2025 (FRance)