SpongeBob is embarking on an adventure like never before in The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants.

The beloved character aims to prove that he’s the big guy by standing up against his number one enemy, the Flying Dutchman (Mark Hamill) and finally facing fear head-on in a way that’s never been done before.

“I don’t know that there’s any big reveals in it,” Tom Kenny told Blavity’s Shadow and Act when asked if the movie would showcase the cartoon he’s voiced for 25-plus years in a way that the series hasn’t.

Embarking on new territory

“The situation that SpongeBob finds himself in, which is going to this terrifying place, the underworld, where he’s been tricked by the nefarious Flying Dutchman to help the Dutchman break his curse, that’s a place we haven’t seen SpongeBob ever go to before,” Kenny said. “One thing about it is that when they first get there, SpongeBob isn’t that scared, right? His ignorance is almost a superpower. He doesn’t know enough to be scared. He’s too naive to be scared. And then as the movie goes on and things start happening, and the Dutchman’s plan looks like it might have a really good chance of success, SpongeBob starts to panic a little bit and gets really scared.”

This is something that Kenny said doesn’t happen often on the show, which is why he hopes people head to theaters to see the film.

“Not only is there the communal experience, and laughter is infectious, but it’s just epic in scope,” he said. “When they go down in the underworld, they’ve really outdone themselves, the designers and the illustrators. I mean, Bikini Bottom is the home base for the television series, but we collectively wanted to deliver something really spectacular for the big screen, and I think we’ve done that.”

A new Flying Dutchman

Revered for roles like Star Wars’ Luke Skywalker and the Joker throughout various DC Comics projects, Mark Hamill is lending his voice to the Flying Dutchman in The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants.

The legendary actor said he intended to show his love for Brian Doyle-Murray, the original voice of one of SpongeBob’s arch nemeses, the Flying Dutchman.

“I’m a huge fan of Brian Doyle-Murray,” Hamill said. “He’s just one of my favorite character actors. This guy would have been a great actor in the golden age of Hollywood. He’s got that iconic voice. I thought, ‘Well, I shouldn’t try to imitate him another way. Let’s try and pretend like it’s the first time it’s ever been done.’ It was just a joy, because I’m a big fan of the show, and I love the contrast between the seriousness and the commitment of my character being in contrast to the inspired silliness of the series regulars.”

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants starring Tom Kenny, Mark Hamill, Sherry Cola, Regina Hall, George Lopez and more premieres in theaters Dec. 19.

Mark Hamill

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