Twitter

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run will be skipping its theatrical window and heading to digital. According to Variety, the Paramount Pictures-Nickelodeon film will stream on demand before landing exclusively on ViacomCBS streaming service CBS All Access in early 2021.

The new SpongeBob movie has had a long journey to the screen. The feature-length film was originally slated to premiere in theaters on May 22, but was pushed to August 7 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. While many theaters plan to reopen in July, Paramount has now opted to ditch its theatrical release altogether in an attempt to turn a profit on digital.

“We are thrilled to have The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run, a premier, first-run movie from one of ViacomCBS’ biggest brands, join CBS All Access’ expanding slate of franchise content from across ViacomCBS,” Marc DeBevoise, chief digital officer at ViacomCBS and president and CEO of ViacomCBS Digital, told Variety. “This launch will be perfectly timed with our continued expansion and planned rebranding of the service in early 2021, as we welcome SpongeBob and the gang from Bikini Bottom to the service in the biggest way possible.”

Variety reports that in addition to The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run, CBS All Access will house all previous seasons of SpongeBob SquarePants. The move comes as ViacomCBS plans to integrate its many networks into one “House of Brands” streaming product that will build upon CBS All Access to incorporate programming from Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, Paramount Pictures, and more.

“We’re incredibly happy to give kids and families a much-deserved lift in any way we can, and the PVOD release of the new SpongeBob theatrical and putting all seasons of the TV series on CBS All Access are two of the best ways I can think of to get immersed in the optimism and joy that this terrific character represents,” said Ramsey Naito, executive VP of Nickelodeon Animation Production and Development.