The episode began production two weeks before its airdate, with the intention to broadcast it on April 15, 2009. The writing team had developed the idea for Cartman mistaking Somali piracy for classic piracy amid the pirate hijacking of the MV "Maersk Alabama" at the time. Captain Richard Phillips was taken hostage in the event, and Parker and Stone decided to hold the episode indefinitely, although animation had begun. Realizing the severity of the situation — if Phillips were killed and the "South Park" episode seemed to mock the situation — they decided to resume work on the episode "Pinewood Derby", which had been in production for a while, as the creators had no idea to where to go with its story. When Phillips was rescued over the weekend, they wanted to resume work on "Fatbeard", but as animation work on the episode proved difficult, including new sets depicting Somalia, it was decided it would be unfeasible.