Since Disney bought Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel and Lucasfilm in 2006, 2009 and 2012, respectively, it was inevitable in the minds of Kingdom Hearts fans that Square Enix will add at least one Pixar, Marvel or Stars Wars world in Kingdom Hearts III. They applauded when not one, but two Pixar worlds, Toy Story and Monsters, Inc., were added to the game, but were left wondering: How come we won't get to see Sora clashing his Keyblade against Darth Vader's lightsaber or slinging webs with Spider-Man? In other words, why weren't the Marvel or Star Wars universes incorporated into the game?
In a special interview with Tetsuya Nomura included in Kingdom Hearts III Ultimania, the official Japanese companion guidebook for Kingdom Hearts III, translated by Twitter user @lunesacree via KH13, Nomura chalked up the absence of Marvel and Star Wars worlds from the game to complications in contract negotiations between Square Enix and Disney.
"In order to change those [properties] into a game, contracts must be made with each company separately, and there are cases where other game companies already have contracts, so although the Disney Group has indeed added those [properties], incorporating them into KH isn't so simple," Nomura said. "That's also the reason Mickey is in only one scene in Kingdom Hearts 1. At the same time, another company was releasing a game that had to do with Mickey, so though we were denied his usage, we persisted and eventually got 'as long as you only have one scene, from far away, as a silhouette, with him waving his hand or something.' Since we had to make the best of the biggest [and only] chance we had, that's why that scene appears that way."
It's important to note that just because the Marvel and/or Star Wars franchises weren't programmed into Kingdom Hearts III, doesn't mean they won't appear in future Kingdom Hearts games. So, there's hope for Sora to see his favorite Marvel superheroes and customize his Keyblade into a lightsaber yet.
