Despite Katsuhiro Harada, Tekken series director, having envisioned a Colonel Sanders cameo for years, it remains unrealized. This, according to Harada, is due to rejection from both KFC and his own superiors.
Harada's Proposal Rejected by KFC and Internal Leadership
Harada's attempts to secure Colonel Sanders as a Tekken character involved direct contact with KFC's Japanese headquarters, but the proposal was met with resistance. He revealed this in a recent interview with The Gamer, expressing his disappointment. This isn't a new aspiration; Harada previously voiced his desire for the Colonel's inclusion on his YouTube channel. The rejection, he stated, was met with disapproval from his own team.
Michael Murray, a game designer, elaborated on the KFC interaction, confirming the company's reluctance. He speculated that the potential conflict of the Colonel fighting might have been a contributing factor. The difficulty in securing such crossovers was highlighted.
Harada had previously expressed his strong desire for the Colonel's inclusion, even stating he'd "dreamed about" it, detailing a well-developed concept with Director Ikeda. However, KFC's marketing department deemed the crossover unlikely to resonate with players, leading to consistent internal opposition. Harada concluded his interview with an open invitation to KFC.
While Tekken has successfully incorporated characters like Akuma (Street Fighter), Noctis (Final Fantasy), and Negan (The Walking Dead), a similar collaboration with KFC, or even Waffle House (another food chain Harada considered), remains improbable due to external factors beyond the development team's control. Despite this setback, fans can anticipate the return of Heihachi Mishima as the game's third DLC character.
