Tekken Director's Colonel Sanders Crossover Dream Remains Unfulfilled
Despite years of yearning, Tekken series director Katsuhiro Harada's ambition to feature Colonel Sanders in the fighting game franchise remains thwarted. Despite his repeated attempts, both KFC and Harada's own superiors have rejected the idea.
Harada's desire for a Colonel Sanders cameo isn't new. He previously expressed his enthusiasm on his YouTube channel and even detailed a fully-formed concept with director Ikeda. However, KFC's marketing team deemed the crossover unlikely to resonate with players, leading to its rejection. Harada even publicly appealed to KFC in a recent interview with The Gamer, stating, "Everyone advises us against it at every turn. So if anyone from KFC reads this interview, please contact me!"
Game designer Michael Murray elaborated on the failed negotiations, revealing KFC's reluctance to the proposal. He noted that while other games have since featured Colonel Sanders, the specific context of a fighting game may have presented unique challenges.
The Tekken franchise has a history of successful guest character appearances, including Akuma (Street Fighter), Noctis (Final Fantasy), and Negan (The Walking Dead). However, Harada's aspirations extend beyond Colonel Sanders; he also considered a Waffle House crossover, though that too seems improbable.
While the Colonel Sanders dream remains unrealized, fans can anticipate the return of Heihachi Mishima as the game's third DLC character.
