Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie

Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie is an upcoming American adventure comedy film based on the animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants, created by Stephen Hillenburg. Directed by Liza Johnson, the film stars the series' regular voice cast and includes new characters (both live-action and animated) performed by Johnny Knoxville, Craig Robinson, Grey DeLisle, Ilia Isorelýs Paulino, Matty Cardarople, and Wanda Sykes. The plot follows Sandy and SpongeBob as they venture to Sandy's home state of Texas to save Bikini Bottom from the hands of an evil CEO. It is the first in a series of SpongeBob character spin-off films.

The film's screenplay was written by Tom Stern and Kaz, the latter of whom also wrote the story. In March 2020, ViacomCBS announced that it would be producing SpongeBob spin-off films for streaming television. In May 2021, a spin-off film featuring the character Sandy as its lead was announced, with Johnson, Kaz, and Stern all attached. Animation services were provided by Pipeline Studios in Ontario, Canada, and Moniker composed the original score.

Prior to its release, the entire film was leaked on January 21, 2024, as a video upload on X (formerly Twitter). Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie is set to be released on Netflix on August 2, 2024.

Premise
When Bikini Bottom is suddenly scooped out of the ocean, Sandy Cheeks and SpongeBob SquarePants journey to Sandy's home state of Texas, where they meet Sandy's family and must save Bikini Bottom from the hands of an evil CEO.

Cast

 * Carolyn Lawrence as Sandy Cheeks
 * Tom Kenny as SpongeBob SquarePants
 * Clancy Brown as Mr. Krabs
 * Bill Fagerbakke as Patrick Star
 * Rodger Bumpass as Squidward Tentacles
 * Mr. Lawrence as Plankton
 * Johnny Knoxville as Randy Cheeks
 * Craig Robinson as Pa Cheeks
 * Grey DeLisle as Ma Cheeks, Granny Cheeks, Rowdy Cheeks, and Rosie Cheeks
 * Ilia Isorelýs Paulino as Phoebe
 * Matty Cardarople as Kyle
 * Wanda Sykes as Sue Nahmee

Development
In March 2020, it was reported that ViacomCBS would be producing two spin-off films based on the series SpongeBob SquarePants for Netflix. In May 2021, a spin-off film with Sandy Cheeks as its lead character was announced to be in development from Nickelodeon for streaming television, to be directed by Liza Johnson from a script written by Kaz and Tom J. Stern and described as a hybrid feature that will put the animated title character into a live-action setting. In August 2021, it was revealed that plans to film Saving Bikini Bottom in Los Alamos were scrapped due to rewrites of the script. Greg Gardiner served as the film's cinematographer for its live-action scenes.

In February 2022, during an investor call, Nickelodeon CEO Brian Robbins said that three SpongeBob character-driven spin-off films were in the works and that they would release exclusively on streamer Paramount+, with the first one premiering in 2023. However, in April 2023, it was reported that Saving Bikini Bottom would instead debut on Netflix in 2024. That same month, in addition to a first-look reveal, it was revealed that Wanda Sykes, Johnny Knoxville, Craig Robinson, Grey DeLisle, Ilia Isorelýs Paulino, and Matty Cardarople were part of the cast. Series regulars Carolyn Lawrence, the voice of Sandy, Tom Kenny, Clancy Brown, Bill Fagerbakke, Mr. Lawrence, and Rodger Bumpass were also confirmed to reprise their roles.

Animation and music
The film was animated by Pipeline Studios in Ontario, Canada, and Moniker composed its original score.

Release
Prior to its release, the entire film was leaked on January 21, 2024, as a video upload on X (formerly Twitter). Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie is scheduled to be released on Netflix on August 2, 2024.