This could be Keanu Reeves’ most excellent — and meta — role yet.
A new teaser trailer for “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run” depicts the “John Wick” star as a disembodied head, ready to impart wisdom — as only Reeves could — for the always-befuddled title character.
The third animated feature in the franchise involves a panicked SpongeBob (voiced by Tom Kenny) and Patrick (Bill Fagerbakke) searching the ocean floor and beyond for his crustacean friend Gary, who has been snail-napped.
Reeves, 55, appears when SpongeBob and Patrick stumble on a tumbleweed with the “Bill & Ted” icon’s head nestled inside the glowing plant. “Hel-LO!” he greets the duo with a welcoming nod in his seemingly self-aware cameo. He oozes a laid-back oracle vibe as he prepares to impart his wisdom before helping them on their journey.
“I’m made out of sage and I am a sage, so it works out pretty well,” he says as a glint of light flickers in his eye.
During their quest, SpongeBob and Patrick wind up in “amazing places,” including Atlantic City, where they’re distracted by neon lights, cotton candy and roulette.
Reeves is already having a great year, starring in his third “John Wick” feature, voicing Duke Caboom in “Toy Story 4,” shooting a third “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” feature film and planning to reprise his role as Neo in a new chapter of the “Matrix” movie franchise. He also broke a few hearts when he walked a red carpet with his previously unseen artist girlfriend — whom people have confused for Dame Helen Mirren — earlier this month.
The movie — which will be available in both 2D and 3D — will hit theaters May 22, 2020.