Saturday, August 29, 2020

'The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run' Pays Tribute to 'SpongeBob' Creator Stephen Hillenburg

Earlier this August, it was revealed that The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run, the third movie inspired by the beloved Nickelodeon animated series, SpongeBob SquarePants would feature a bittersweet tribute to SpongeBob SquarePants creator Stephen Hillenburg. It may be a little while yet before fans around the world will be able to see The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run, however, the film is currently available in theatres in Canada, unveiling the touching tribute to the show's late creator.


Hillenburg sadly died from ALS complications in 2018, and although Nickelodeon already paid tribute to the late creator in the 2019 SpongeBob SquarePants special "SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout", The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run was one of the last projects that he worked on, so it only makes sense that Nickelodeon would pay tribute to the late creator in the movie.

In fact, there are two touching tributes to Stephen Hillenburg in The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run! Please note that there are spoilers ahead The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run that some readers may like to avoid.


The first tribute to Hillenburg in The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run is more of an Easter Egg. During a scene at The Krusty Krab, if you look very closely, there is a Hillenburg sketch near the cashier window.

The second tribute to Hillenburg is at the very end of the film, in which the words "In Memory of Stephen Hillenburg." with a SpongeBoy drawing (an early version of colorized SpongeBob) above it, pictured below:


Unfortunately, as the movie isn't playing theatrically everywhere, the tribute won't be on the big screen like it deserves to be.

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run sees best friends SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star venture out of Bikini Bottom and head to the Lost City of Atlantic City on a rescue mission to save SpongeBob’s trustee snail Gary. Its the third SpongeBob film, after 2004’s The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie and 2015’s The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water. Those movies were commercially successful, earning over $450 million globally combined.

In Sponge on the Run, 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.

Sponge on the Run will see the cast of SpongeBob SquarePants reprise their respective roles: Tom Kenny (SpongeBob and Gary), Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick Star), Rodger Bumpass (Squidward), Carolyn Lawrence (Sandy), Clancy Brown (Mr. Krabs), Douglas Lawrence (Plankton), Jill Talley (Karen), Mary Jo Catlett (Mrs. Puff), and Lori Alan (Pearl). An actor named Antonio Raul Corbo will be voicing young SpongeBob.

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run will feature a raft of guest stars, including: Keanu Reeves (as a tumbleweed named Sage), Awkwafina, Reggie Watts and Snoop Dog (as a Zombie Cowboy). Cyndi Lauper (The SpongeBob Musical) has written original songs for the film.

Based on the TV series created by Stephen Hillenburg, The SpongeBob Movie is written and directed by Tim Hill, and produced by Ryan Harris, with Stephen Hillenburg exec producing. Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Movies present, in association with MRC A United Plankton Pictures production.

As mentioned above, the only country where Sponge on the Run has been released theatrically (so far) is in Canada, where it opened on in 300 theaters on Friday, August 14.

In the U.S., the film will debut digitally via premium video on demand in early 2021 and then move exclusively to CBS All Access. The movie will be joined by SpongeBob prequel series Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years.

Internationally, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run will be available on Netflix (including in Canada after its theatrical run).

More Nick: CBS All Access to Premiere 'Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years' During Early 2021!

Originally published: Saturday, August 29, 2020 at 01:549 BST.

Source: Encyclopedia SpongeBobia.
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