Baby Yoda Merch Could Be Delayed As Hasbro Deals With Coronavirus

Hasbro's lineup of Baby Yoda toys could experience production delays due to the outbreak of COVID-19, commonly referred to as the coronavirus. In an SEC filing, the toy manufacturer explained that because the disease has caused factory closures in China--where the vast majority of its toys are made--it's possible there will be toy shortages. While Hasbro didn't specifically mention Baby Yoda, the lineup of plushies, dolls, and figures is undoubtedly one of Hasbro's most in-demand upcoming toys.

"The occurrence of these types of events can result, and in the case of the coronavirus has resulted in, disruptions and damage to our business, caused by both the negative impact to our ability to design, develop, manufacture and ship product (the supply side impact) and the negative impact on consumer purchasing behavior (the demand side impact)," Hasbro wrote in the filing.

Hasbro's first wave of Baby Yoda toys releases in May and includes a talking plush, action figure, and adorable miniature figurines. As of now, no Baby Yoda toys have officially been delayed, and if you pre-ordered early, it doesn't seem like the ongoing production issues are likely to affect your order.

In an interview with CNN Business, toy industry expert Jim Silver discussed Hasbro's production woes. "If things aren't normal by the time June and July roll around, there will be shortages on a litany of toys," he said. Silver projected a 5 to 10% decline in Baby Yoda toy production, but claimed that the first round of merchandise will be minimally affected.

But given the production delays, there's certainly a chance that restocking efforts for Baby Yoda toys could slow to a crawl if you don't snag your plushies and figurines early. Hasbro also has a few toys expected to release beyond this spring that could potentially be delayed if production doesn't pick up in the next few months, including the animatronic Baby Yoda doll set to release in December.

The coronavirus outbreak has already significantly impacted both the gaming and entertainment industries. The Game Developers Conference (GDC) has been postponed until the summer. Disney's live-action Mulan remake and Pixar's Onward have been delayed in China due to theater closures, and the latest Bond movie, No Time to Die, has been pushed back from April to November.