If you’ve been hanging out in Bikini Bottom lately, you might have noticed something feels a little different. Or maybe you saw a frantic headline on social media and thought the world was ending because a "new SpongeBob voice actor" was supposedly taking over. Let’s just breathe for a second.
Tom Kenny is still the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants. He isn't retiring, he hasn't been fired, and he certainly isn't handing over the spatula to anyone else in 2026. Honestly, the guy has been doing this since 1999—over 26 years—and he still talks about it like it's the best gig on the planet. He recently did an interview with CBC Arts where he basically said he has "no bad days" when he’s voicing that porous yellow guy.
But there is a major shakeup that just happened. It’s why everyone is talking about "new" actors in the franchise.
The Massive Recast Nobody Saw Coming
The real story isn't about SpongeBob himself, but rather one of the show's most iconic, green, glowing villains. For the brand new film, The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants (which just hit theaters in December 2025), a legendary character got a brand new voice.
Mark Hamill is the new voice of The Flying Dutchman.
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Yeah, you read that right. Luke Skywalker himself has taken over the role from Brian Doyle-Murray. Doyle-Murray had voiced the Dutchman since the very first season in 1999. If you grew up with that specific, gravelly "Oooooh!" then hearing Hamill might be a bit of a shock to the system.
Why did they replace Brian Doyle-Murray?
Nickelodeon hasn't given a "corporate" reason, but fans have been speculating like crazy on Reddit and X. Brian Doyle-Murray is nearly 80 years old now. While he’s still active, a feature-length movie is a massive undertaking compared to a few lines in a TV episode. Mark Hamill is a voice-acting titan—think Joker from Batman: The Animated Series—so if you’re going to replace a legend, you get a legend.
Interestingly, Hamill isn't technically a "new" face to the franchise. He actually voiced a character called The Moth back in Season 5. He joked during the movie's premiere that if he does his job right, "every child in America will hate my guts."
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Who Else is Joining the Cast?
The 2025/2026 era of SpongeBob is leaning hard into celebrity cameos, which is probably why people keep searching for "new" actors. The latest movie is packed with voices you’ll recognize, but they aren't replacing the "Main Six."
- Regina Hall plays Barb, a new sidekick for the Flying Dutchman.
- Ice Spice makes a cameo as a ticket taker (and she's on the soundtrack).
- Mark Hamill is the big one, obviously.
- George Lopez and Sherry Cola also pop up in the Underworld segments of the film.
The core crew—Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick), Rodger Bumpass (Squidward), Clancy Brown (Mr. Krabs), Carolyn Lawrence (Sandy), and Mr. Lawrence (Plankton)—are all still there. They’ve been the backbone of this show for over a quarter of a century. It's actually kind of wild when you think about it. Most shows swap people out every few years, but these guys are a family.
Is Tom Kenny Ever Leaving?
Look, Tom Kenny is 63. People start wondering about retirement around that age. But in every single appearance he’s made lately—from San Diego Comic-Con to CBS Mornings—he seems more energized than ever.
He recently made headlines for confirming something fans have suspected for years: SpongeBob is neurodivergent. Kenny mentioned at a convention that he views SpongeBob’s "superpower" as being on the spectrum. This kind of deep connection to the character makes it hard to imagine him ever walking away. He’s said point-blank in past Wired interviews that he'll keep doing it as long as the checks clear and his voice holds up.
There was a minor scare a while back when a TikTok rumor claimed a "AI replacement" was being tested for SpongeBob’s voice. That was total nonsense. Nickelodeon has been pretty vocal about the value of the original cast, especially since the passing of creator Stephen Hillenburg. They want to keep his original vision intact, and that includes the specific "DNA" of the voices.
What This Means for the Future of Bikini Bottom
If you’re worried that the "new" voices in the movies mean the TV show is changing, don't be. Usually, big theatrical releases use "stunt casting" to bring in a wider audience. It’s why we got Mark Hamill in the movie.
However, in the actual Nickelodeon series, Brian Doyle-Murray has still been credited in recent seasons. It’s possible we’ll have a "Dual-Dutchman" situation where Hamill does the big-budget movies and Doyle-Murray sticks to the 11-minute TV segments.
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Actionable Insights for Fans
If you want to keep up with who is actually behind the mic without getting fooled by clickbait, here’s what to look for:
- Check the "Regular Cast" Credits: Always verify against the "Main Six." If Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, or Rodger Bumpass aren't on the list, then it’s likely a spin-off or a fake report.
- Watch the Movies for Recasts: The movies (Search for SquarePants, etc.) are where the experimental casting happens. That's where you'll find the Hamills and the Ice Spices of the world.
- Follow Official Anniversaries: 2024 was the 25th anniversary, and the momentum is carrying into 2026 with Season 16. The "Legacy Cast" is usually very active on the convention circuit during these years.
The "new SpongeBob voice actor" rumors are mostly just a mix-up over the Flying Dutchman's new pipes. Tom Kenny is still the captain of this ship, and he isn't heading to the locker anytime soon.
If you’re heading to the theater this week, keep your ears open for Hamill’s take on the Dutchman—it’s definitely spookier than the original, but it fits the "Underworld" vibe of the new film perfectly.