'SpongeBob 2' Plunges Ahead: Banderas Dives In, Filming Begins Soon

Though the upcoming "SpongeBob SquarePants 2" will be mostly animated, the movie's live-action scenes are scheduled to start filming in coastal Georgia next week and Antonio Banderas has signed on to play a pirate.

"SpongeBob 2," the sequel to 2004's "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie," will begin shooting on Tybee Island, Ga., on Sept. 30 with some additional scenes to film in Savannah at the beginning of October, according to The Savannah Morning News.

Urgent: Should Obamacare be Repealed? Vote Here Now

"This is going to be one of those films that every kid in the world is going to want to see and their parents are going to have to take them," Jay Self of the Savannah Film Office told the Morning News in July.

The first film, which grossed more than $140 million worldwide, featured David Hasselhoff in the live-action scenes.

The film is based on the popular Nickelodeon cartoon about the underwater world of Bikini Bottom with all its residents, including the title character.

Fans seemed excited about the sequel and took to Twitter to discuss it.

ATTN ALL SPONGEBOB FANS: You all now have plans on February 13, 2015 to see the Spongebob 2 movie! Who's ready? IM READY! IM READY!

— Ry Guy (@ryguy811) September 23, 2013

They're making a Spongebob Squarepants Movie 2. Yeah. That's happening.

— Mason G. Andrews (@MasonAndrews21) September 23, 2013

Spongebob movie 2 in theaters 2015. Life complete

— M❁llY (@molll29) September 23, 2013

"SpongeBob SquarePants 2" is scheduled to hit theaters in February 2015.

Urgent: Will Obamacare Hurt Your Wallet? Vote Here Now

Related stories:

Mel Gibson Is Addition to 'Expendables 3'; Antonio Banderas in Wings?

It's Not His Best Day Ever: SpongeBob in Hot Water From Study of 4-Year-Olds

Big Bird vs. SpongeBob: Taxpayers Lose