SpongeBob SquarePants is one of Nickelodeon’s most popular media franchises. In fact, it’s been 25 years since the titular jolly square sponge himself (voiced by Tom Kenny) first made his appearance. It certainly explains why Nickelodeon would be so eager to show off SpongeBob at their booth at San Diego Comic-Con 2024 (SDCC 2024).

However, there was also a surprise guest at that panel: Mark Hamill. Star Wars fans will be very familiar with that name, since he has portrayed Luke Skywalker. What is he doing in a SpongeBob SquarePants booth, you might ask? Well, apparently, he’s there to announce the brand new SpongeBob movie. What movie is that, you might ask as well? Well, read on below, and enjoy the YouTube trailer for that 25th anniversary while you’re at it:

SpongeBob SquarePants 25th Anniversary Panel: Announcements Details

The ever-jolly square sponge is still hard at work here, I see.

At the SpongeBob SquarePants 25th Anniversary Panel at SDCC 2024 on Thursday, July 25, 2024; Mark Hamill himself showed up to announce The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants. This will be the latest addition to the SpongeBob SquarePants film series. In fact, it will be the fourth in the series after The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run back in 2021.

As for why Mark Hamill? Apparently, he will be voicing the main antagonist of this latest SpongeBob film: The Flying Dutchman. According to Nickelodeon, this character will be “a gruff and goofy ghost-pirate who will face off against SpongeBob in his newest underwater adventure”. The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants will make its theatrical debut on December 19, 2025; so you have to wait a bit to find out what that means.

However, that’s not all that the panel has to announce.

Bonus: Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie

Could this be Sandy Cheeks’ backstory?

The SpongeBob SquarePants 25th Anniversary Panel also revealed Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie via that exclusive clip above, which they then subsequently posted to YouTube. This will be another hybrid live-action and animated film that will make its debut on August 2, 2024. This will, of course, be a Netflix exclusive, so you will need a paid subscription to watch it.

Bonus 2: “Kreepaway Kamp” Special

The gags just keep on coming here.

Lastly, the SpongeBob SquarePants 25th Anniversary Panel is also proud to reveal “Kreepaway Kamp” via that exclusive clip above, which they then also uploaded to YouTube. This will be an hour-long special for the SpongeBob SquarePants TV series. According to Nickelodeon, “in ‘Kreepaway Kamp,’ while at Kamp Koral for a reunion, SpongeBob and the gang are stalked by a mysterious figure lurking in the shadows as campers start disappearing one by one!” “Kreepaway Kamp” will make its debut sometime in Fall 2024 only on Nickelodeon and Paramount+.