If you've ever felt that the Tekken franchise could use a pinch of something extra flavorful, you're not alone! The game's director, Katsuhiro Harada, once had a spicy idea: to add the iconic Colonel Sanders from KFC to the roster of fighters.

In a candid interview with The Gamer, Harada revealed that he approached KFC's head office in Japan with his quirky proposition. He thought it would be a hilarious and unexpected twist to have Colonel Sanders dropkick his way into the Tekken universe, but alas, his dreams of a fried chicken-themed fighter were dashed.

Harada recounted, “A long time ago, I wanted to have Colonel Sanders from Kentucky Fried Chicken fight. So, I asked to use him and went to the head office in Japan.” Unfortunately, the response was lukewarm at best, with KFC expressing a “bad look” at the proposal, leading Harada to believe that perhaps KFC was hesitant to share its beloved mascot in a combat setting.

Interestingly, it seems KFC's reluctance may not be about video games in general. Since his proposal, Colonel Sanders has made appearances in other gaming formats—most notably in dating simulators. This led Harada and his team to speculate that the fast-food giant is simply against the idea of the Colonel participating in anything considered a "fighting" format.

Game designer Michael Murray weighed in on the saga: "Harada went to Kentucky Fried Chicken and tried to get Colonel Sanders. They weren't very open to it. Colonel Sanders appeared in games after that, so maybe it was just him fighting someone that posed a problem for them. It highlights how tricky these discussions with brand management can be."

In related news, while Colonel Sanders won’t be stepping into the ring, fans of Tekken have plenty to anticipate! The notorious Heihachi Mishima, one of the series' most infamous villains, is making his return in the highly-anticipated Tekken 8, set to release this autumn. His comeback was revealed at this year’s Evo fighting game esports event, alongside an exciting new story mode chapter titled "The Dark Awakens." Heihachi joins the ranks of recent DLC characters, Eddy Gordo and Lidia Sobieska, offering fresh content to eager gamers.

As the Tekken franchise evolves, one can't help but wonder: will Colonel Sanders ever find his way into the melee? 🍗👊 Stay tuned for more thrilling updates!