'SpongeBob' Summer of F.U.N. Gets Even Bigger With New Short, Movie Cast Reveal And Opening Scene At Annecy

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Okay, so you might have already noticed that the Nicktoons channel has now embraced an all-day SpongeBob SquarePants lineup to the point that they’re rebranded to NickSpongeBob and proud. Or that new episodes have been airing Friday nights as the lead-in to the newest Nicktoon Wylde Pak. Or that season 14 was added to Paramount+ on June 4, and season 3 of The Patrick Star Show will be added on Wednesday. But the summer’s just started as next Friday, there’s a nostalgia-fueled crossover between both shows premiering, and it’s called “SpongeBob and Patrick’s Timeline Twist-up”. On top of that, a short produced nearly 15 years ago will finally see the light of day, fourth theatrical film Search for SquarePants finally gets more cast details, and will have its own Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles short set after Mutant Mayhem.

In “SpongeBob and Patrick’s Timeline Twist-up”, premiering Friday, June 27, at 7:00 p.m. (ET/PT) Patrick’s Time Closet goes on the fritz, SpongeBob’s history is re-written by Squidina, Cecil, Bunny and GrandPat. As they appear, it is up to SpongeBob and Patrick to restore the timeline and stop the madness. They adventure through some of the most iconic early episodes, including the very first, “Help Wanted”, as well as “Rock Bottom”, “Ripped Pants”, and “Neptune’s Spatula”, which includes the return of John O’Hurley as King Neptune. His, not Jeffrey Tambor’s. They coexist actually.

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Ahead of Nickelodeon and Paramount Animation's June 10 Annecy International Animation Film Festival panel, it was announced that the never-before-seen short, "SpongeBob: Order Up”, will be attached to Smurfs starting with its July 18 release. "Order Up" was produced by Nickelodeon Animation around 2011-2012, but somehow never got released. It centers on SpongeBob and Squidward’s typical work dynamic during a Krusty Krab shift. SpongeBob is overusing the "order up" bell to the point that it drives Squidward mad. Sean Charmatz, who wrote several episodes of the main show in seasons 6-8, and Paul Tibbitt, who has writing credits on 115 SpongeBob episodes and co-directed and helped pen the story of The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, co-wrote the short. Charmatz eventually moved on to direct DreamWorks' Orion and the Dark which released on Netflix last year. Tibbitt, also executive-produced alongside Hillenburg, with a team that included creative director Vincent Waller, animation and supervising director Alan Smart, art director Peter Bennett, producer Jennie Monica Hammond, and production manager Alvaro Zalaya.

Back at San Diego Comic-Con last year, it was revealed that The Search for SquarePants would feature previous “Night Light” guest star Mark Hamill taking over the role of the Flying Dutchman, previously voiced in all appearances by Brian Doyle-Murray. He said “He’s the most fearsome goofball pirate you’ve ever seen. The movie is more cerebral. It’s more thoughtful, intellectually challenging. No, I’m just yanking your chain. It’s inspired silliness from start to finish.” He will abduct SpongeBob and Patrick with the aim of using them to break a curse on his back. At Annecy, George Lopez, Regina Hall, Shrinking’s Sherry Cola, Arturo Castro, and soundtrack contributor Ice Spice were all announced to have roles.

Director Derek Drymon, who was an early creative force on the staff of the original seasons introduce the premiere of the first act of the film. “It’s like coming home,” he said, later saying “We wanted to recapture the spirit of the first season. I’m so thankful to Paramount for backing a creator-led project. What wins the day is being a kid, and that’s what we infused in this feature.” He the discussed the film’s more “spooky” setting through its concept art. The exclusive footage of the “first act” has SpongeBob reach the height of 36 clams, the height requirement to ride a rollercoaster but he backs out at the last moment. It seems the 2004 first film’s theme of being grown up are making a comeback as Mr. Krabs tells him that there is more to being grown up than height and tells a story about his seafaring days. SpongeBob clings to the idea of getting his swashbuckler certificate but in doing so unwittingly summons the spirit of the Flying Dutchman. The film, which opens December 19, 2025, will have its own attached short, this one much newer. It returns to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles continuity started by Mutant Mayhem, “Chrome Alone 2: Lost in New Jersey” directed by Kent Seki and which will tackle AI.

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Sources: Animation Magazine, Collider, Variety (1, 2), Deadline