SpongeBob: Sponge On The Run Delayed Into 2021, And Will Skip Theatres

SpongeBob: Sponge On The Run, which had been delayed from its May 22 release until August 7 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been delayed again--and now it won't release in cinemas at all.

Variety is reporting that the film, which is the third cinematic SpongeBob SquarePants feature, will now debut as a premium rental in early 2021 ahead of an eventual release on CBS All Access, the streaming company of ViacomCBS (disclosure: ViacomCBS is GameSpot's parent company).

Exact dates have not been set, but Marc DeBevoise, chief digital officer at ViacomCBS, told Variety that "this launch will be perfectly timed with our continued expansion and planned rebranding of the service in early 2021." The rebrand is currently being planned.

All previous seasons of the show will also be available on the streaming service.

This is far from the first movie aimed at kids to go digital in the wake of COVID-19--Scoob had a digital release, as did Trolls: World Tour, to great success. The new Artemis Fowl movie from Disney, meanwhile, went straight to Disney+, as did the movie Onward in several regions.

A new SpongeBob Squarepants game remake, Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated, is available now. You can read more in GameSpot's review.