My roster predictions and why I stand by them.
Scorpion - Duh
Sub-Zero - Duh
Raiden - Duh
Kitana- Duh
Liu Kang - Duh..okay now this is getting old
Johnny Cage - Wouldn't be surprised if he sat out but he's way too popular at this point to exclude.
Sonya - I don't want her, but it's going to happen. She's favored by the team.
Jax - He got the popularity boost from his amazing MKX gameplay. Plus, he's the only brawler/boxer representation in Mortal Kombat. Can't exclude that from a fighting game can you? Maybe you can but Jax is popular enough.
Noob Saibot - Too many teases in MKX that imply he's coming and with big story behind him. Plus he was the most missed character in MKX according to the Ed Boon poll.
Shang Tsung - Fills in the sorcerer slot since Quan and Shinnok are dead. Plus the endings imply he's coming.
Jade - The "mystery woman" has been teased two games in a row. You can't have it go unanswered for a third game. Brain Chard, a former NRS writer, has confirmed they have had plans for the mystery woman. She was also the most missed FEMALE according to the Ed Boon poll.
Cassie Cage - Okay here we go with the "Duh" reasons again. So...Duh.
Jacqui Briggs - Duh (Sadly)
Takeda - Duh
Kung Jin - Duh
Kotal Kahn - Duh (Okay last one)
Erron Black - Likely taking the place D'Vorah was in with Kotal. Plus he's arguably Top 3 when it comes to the most popular newbies in MKX.
D'Vorah - Kotal is likely going to be after her, their hatred will grow more intense in this game.
Tanya - Ed Boon pushes for her in almost every game since her debut in MK4.
Kenshi - Important to the story with Takeda about finding Suchin's killer. NRS 3D era fav but this is probably his last run.
Bo' Rai Cho - NRS 3D era fav. "We old warriors need to stick together, eh?" definitely a need along with Fujin if Dark Raiden comes into play here. Personal friends playing a role is something you can't ignore. It's implied from one of his intros with Sub-Zero that he knows of Noob Saibot's whereabouts. Another important role.
Taven - Plays a role in finding Suchin's killer along with Takeda and Kenshi. Rumors suggest he's coming.
Daegon - Probably the most important character in playing a role for the Takeda and Kenshi story since HE IS the killer. Rumors also suggest he's coming.
Frost - Highly popular. Instead of Sub-Zero training the Kombat Kids in this story, it may focus on him training Frost much like how it was in MKDA.
Skarlet - Was suppose to be in MKX with a story role but was cut. Pretty sure Kittelsen is going to pick her up with the Blood Kode stuff since he is now the lead writer for the games.
Li Mei - Idk, I just think she'll be in. Lol
Rain - Pretty sure the team has him as a priority right now since nobody would shut up about him for DLC in MKX. They can't put him in for DLC twice, so it's now or never.
Onaga - Onaga's return is inevitable. The end of the MKX comic suggest that he's coming which was Kittelsen work. Again he is now the lead writer for the games. Rumors also suggest he's coming.
Blaze - Rumors suggest Deception and Armageddon ELEMENTS will be in MK11. Blaze is important to the story if Taven and Daegon are BOTH awake, which they should be since they are both important to Kenshi and Takeda.
Shao Kahn (PRE-ORDER BONUS) - Pretty obvious this will happen. According to Brian Chard, Shao Kahn was almost DLC in MKX. I'm sure they have a design for him set if he was "ALMOST" DLC. They'll pick up where they left off.
-HONORABLE MENTIONS-
Fujin - He's important to Dark Raiden but Netherrealm doesn't want to do him.
Sareena - Her whole point is to be a love interest to Noob and/or Kuai Liang which both are probably going to be in the game.
Shujinko - If Deception elements are in, he at least has to have a cameo.
Smoke - The enenra story has to be explored, why bring up something interesting with the character and then do nothing with it? Wouldn't be the first time.
Sindel - If Shao Kahn and Kitana are in the same game, why not have Sindel?