KFC Colonel Sanders Battles Tekken?

Colonel Sanders' Tekken appearance is impossible, says Tekken series director Katsuhiro Harada, despite his two-year dream.

Harada's Colonel Sanders x Tekken Proposal Rejected By KFCHarada Also Rejected by His Own Superiors

Colonel Sanders, the founder and iconic mascot of fast-food chicken chain KFC, has long been a character Tekken director Katsuhiro Harada wanted in the fighting game series. However, according to Harada in a recent interview, KFC, along with Harada's own superiors, rejected his request. "A long time ago, I wanted Colonel Sanders from Kentucky Fried Chicken to fight," Harada told The Gamer. "So, I asked to use Colonel Sanders and contacted the Japan headquarters."

This isn't the first time Harada has mentioned wanting the Colonel in the Tekken series. Harada previously stated in an old YouTube video that he'd love the KFC icon as a guest fighter in Tekken. Harada also shared that he received a disapproving reaction when his Tekken x Colonel Sanders aspirations were denied. So, fans shouldn't expect any KFC crossover in Tekken 8 anytime soon.

Game developer Michael Murray elaborated on Harada's interaction with KFC in his interview with The Gamer. Apparently, Harada personally contacted KFC to secure Colonel Sanders, but "they weren't very receptive," Murray stated. "[Colonel Sanders] appeared in games afterward. So perhaps it was simply him contending with an obstacle. But it highlights the complexity of such negotiations."

In prior interviews, Harada avowed that he had "longed to" include Colonel Sanders in Tekken if given complete creative license. "Honestly, I envision Colonel Sanders from KFC in Tekken. Director Ikeda and I have a concept for this character," Harada said. "We know how to execute it effectively. It would be truly exceptional." However, KFC's marketing team appeared less keen on such a collaboration than the Tekken director. "The marketing department, however, is hesitant, believing players wouldn't appreciate it." Harada added, "We face constant opposition. So if any KFC representatives read this, please get in touch!"

Over the years, the Tekken franchise has achieved some remarkable character crossovers, such as Akuma from Street Fighter, Final Fantasy's Noctis, and even Negan from The Walking Dead series. But besides Colonel Sanders and KFC, Harada also considered adding another prominent food chain to Tekken—Waffle House, which seems improbable. "It's not something we can achieve independently," Harada previously stated regarding fans' requests for Waffle House's inclusion. Still, fans can anticipate the return of Heihachi Mishima, resurrected as the game's third DLC character.