KFC reveals a new Colonel Sanders as sales soar

KFC has a new Colonel Sanders - again. 

On Thursday, KFC announced that the chain's newest colonel would be played by Ray Liotta, an actor best known for his roles in movies such as "Goodfellas" and "Field of Dreams."

Liotta will star in a series of ads promoting two semi-recent additions to KFC's menu, which have roots in trendy Southern cuisine: Georgia Gold honey mustard BBQ chicken and Nashville Hot chicken.

Liotta is just the latest in a long line of actors to play Sanders in KFC ads over the last two years. Other actors include Billy Zane, Darrell Hammond, and Norm Macdonald. 

Despite some initial backlash to the chain bringing back the colonel in 2015, KFC's Sanders-centric marketing push has been a success.

The return of the colonel in advertising, along with an effort to improve food quality and customer service, helped spark a turnaround for KFC. In August, parent company Yum reported that same-store sales increased 3% in the most recent quarter, with CEO Greg Creed calling the brand a "global powerhouse" achieving things "no one would have believed possible three years ago." 

Here's KFC's first commercial starring Liotta: 

 

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