Last month it was announced that Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon’s CG-animated The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run would be going down the same route as the likes of Trolls World Tour and Scoob!, skipping a theatrical release in the wake of the global health crisis.
In North America, the film is set for a VOD launch early in 2021 before settling in to its exclusive streaming home at CBS All Access, and now it has been announced that Netflix has secured the international distribution rights to the movie. Between the Netflix and CBS All Access deals, Paramount is said to have recovered the film’s $60 million production cost.
According to Variety, Netflix is not beholden to the 2021 domestic release date for Sponge on the Run and could therefore offer the movie to its international subscribers much sooner than that. As yet however, there is no word on a premiere date.
SEE ALSO: Keanu Reeves plays a tumbleweed in trailer for The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run
This isn’t the first such deal between Netflix and Paramount, with the streamer also handling the international releases of Annihilation and Shaft. The streamer also handled the global release of The Lovebirds this year after its theatrical release was pulled due to theater closures.
After SpongeBob’s beloved pet snail Gary is snail-napped, he and Patrick embark on an epic adventure to The Lost City of Atlantic City to bring Gary home. As they navigate the delights and dangers on this perilous and hilarious rescue mission, SpongeBob and his pals prove there’s nothing stronger than the power of friendship.
Directed by Tim Hill, show veteran and co-writer of 2004’s The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie, the film will see Tom Kenny (SpongeBob), Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick), Clancy Brown (Mr. Krabs), Rodger Bumpass (Squidward), Lori Alan (Pearl), Mr. Lawrence (Plankton), Jill Talley (Karen) and Mary Jo Catlett (Mrs. Puff) reprising their roles from the series alongside new additions Awkwafina (Crazy Rich Asians) and Keanu Reeves (John Wick).
