The Mandalorian has been the hottest thing to hit the Star Wars franchise in some time, and it's thanks in large part to a little green-skinned child we affectionately know as Baby Yoda. Whether you prefer the popular nickname or go by his official name of Grogu, there's no denying the character has played a role in the success of Disney+'s series, and the latest merchandise sales confirm he's still very much a fan-favorite.
Following 2020 as the first year since 2014 in which a new Star Wars movie wasn't released, CNBC reported that Hasbro saw big sales thanks to Grogu. Star Wars sales grew by 70% for the toy company during that period, which is especially impressive because licensed content sales for the toy company were down 12% for the full year. Luckily for the company, Hasbro was able to capitalize on the release of Season 2 of The Mandalorian and have some Grogu toys ready to go when it premiered.
Some may remember this is not something Hasbro was able to do in Season 1, as Disney respected Jon Favreau's request to keep all reveals regarding Baby Yoda under wraps until his reveal in The Mandalorian. Reports at the time alleged that Disney lost around $2.7 million not having any merchandise for Grogu ready for the holidays, though it seems like people's interest in the creature didn't wane in 2020. The toy company struggled to keep toys of the alien in stock, so it stands to reason they could've made more if given a head start to make toys pre-COVID.
What will be interesting to see is how much longer Grogu is a hot item amongst Star Wars consumers, especially after the character was seemingly written off The Mandalorian at the end of Season 2. Grogu left with Luke Skywalker to train as a Jedi, leaving behind Din Djarin, who had a whole new set of problems with his acquisition of the Darksaber. It's unclear whether or not we'll see The Child again, especially considering Disney opted to CGI Mark Hamill to appear as a younger version of himself rather than recast the role of Luke Skywalker.
That being said, all licensed properties are valuable because of their ability to make money. If Grogu is a large factor in increased Star Wars sales then it isn't hard to believe Disney will find a way for him to appear once again. That shouldn't be a problem to viewers if he's as popular as the numbers say, so it'd really be a win-win for everyone should Grogu return at some point.
Here's a fun question: how many Baby Yoda items do you own in your house right now? Vote in our poll below to share your numbers, and for more on The Mandalorian, read up about who Katee Sackhoff thought would be playing Bo-Katan Kryze instead of her.
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