The "Star Wars" BB-8 Droid Can Now Be Purchased; Dogs Both Love And Fear It

Earlier this week, it was predicted the new Star Wars film, The Force Awakens, would generate around $5 billion in merch sales within one year.

Now that it’s first official toy has hit the stands – an app-controlled BB-8 droid – we feel confident in saying it’ll probably hit that $5 billion mark by December, on BB-8 sales alone.

The adorable robot made a splash when it appeared in the long-anticipated flick’s first trailer, so it’s no surprise that Disney’s merchandising arm has rolled (pun!) it out several months ahead of the movie's release.

Priced at $249.99 in Australia (a full $100 more than in the States), the Sphero-designed toy can be operated by a smartphone or tablet.

I mean, it can’t do your bidding, but you can at least tell it where to roll and stuff.

Vanity Fair put it to the test. The results of their investigation: puppies love it. (Though they also have a deferential fear of it, too.)

Yes, it’s already on sale.