Sandy Cheeks, the beloved squirrel fromSpongeBob Squarepants, is set for her own spinoff movie, which sources describe as a hybrid feature that will put the animated character in a live-action setting. Nickelodeon is producing the untitled movie, which will be directed byLiza Johnson, Collider has exclusively learned.
Sources add that the Sandy Cheeks movie is being made for an undisclosed streaming service, and while Viacom-backed Paramount+ obviously makes the most sense, Nickelodeon may have also opted to sell the project to the highest bidder. That could very well be Netflix, which debutedThe SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Runin select international territories last August. Either way, it remains unclear which streamer the Sandy Cheeks spinoff is being made for, thoughproduction is expected to start in August in New Mexico.
Sources add that longtimeSpongeBobwriterKazco-wrote the script withTom J. Stern, who recently wrote, directed and produced Nickelodeon’s live-action specialSpongeBob AppreciationDay, which aired in January 2020.Stern’s own websitesays he’s writing a soon-to-be-announced feature film in theSpongeBobuniverse.
A representative for Nickelodeon had no comment.
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Sandra “Sandy"Cheeks was created and designed bySpongeBob SquarepantscreatorStephen Hillenburg, who also happens to be amarine biologist. She isone of 10 main characters in theSpongeBobfranchise, and she’s a close friend of both the titular sponge and his BFF/neighbor Patrick Star.
Sandy hails from Texas and has the Southern drawl to match, as well as a passion for karate, music and rodeos. She is a thrill-seeking scientist and inventor who wears an atmospheric diving suit and lives underwater in Bikini Bottom, where she hangs out with fellow Gal Pals such as Karen, Pearl and Mrs. Puff.The character is voiced byCarolyn Lawrenceand made her TV debut in May 1999 in the episode “Tea at the Treedome.”
The first twoSpongeBobmovies grossed nearly $500 million worldwide combined, and the animated franchise is obviously a huge money-maker for Nickelodeon and Viacom as a whole, especially when you take merchandise sales into account. Sandy Cheeks may not be as well known as SpongeBob, but she’s an interesting supporting character who should be able to anchor her own hybrid movie for kids.
Johnson burst onto the scene with the 2011 dramaReturnstarringLinda CardelliniandMichael Shannonbefore going on to direct 2013’sHateship LoveshipstarringKristen WiigandHailee Steinfeld. Her last feature was the 2016 indie comedyElvis & Nixon, which saw her reunite with Shannon. Johnson has also directed a number of hit TV shows, including episodes ofDead to Me,What We Do in the Shadows,Silicon ValleyandBarryas well as Apple’s upcomingRose ByrneseriesPhysical. She’s represented by UTA and Mosaic.
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