I get a lot of the disbelief and what not, but the fact is this leak does show a lot of classic characters from the trilogy era are in.
Are they all in? No, but then again this is MK 11, not MK9. Half the roster is from the trilogy era. I think that's as good as you're going to get from that era, barring DLC.
You have to make room for some new characters (which looks to be about 4), and leave some spots open for some MKX returnees, and a spot or two for the 3D era.
Looks to me NRS did just that: 15 Trilogy, 1 3D, 5 MKX, 4 New.
I'm disappointed Reptile looks to be sitting out, but someone 'has' to sit out, and Reptile has had a long run in the MK games. Ermac too. And Mileena. I'm willing to bet we'll see them as DLC though.
So, what's been leaked may come off as weird or unfair to you, but if you look at it objectively, it comes across more plausible than implausible.
Here's what we have so far, if this massive leak is correct:
1. Scorpion (Classic)
2. Sub-Zero (Classic)
3. Raiden (Classic)
4. Sonya (Classic)
5. Baraka (Classic)
6. Skarlet (MK9 Return)
7. Geras (New)
8. Kano (Classic)
9. Kabal (Classic)
10. Liu Kang (Classic)
11. Kung Lao (Classic)
12. Frost (3D Era)
13. Jade (Classic)
14. Cassie Cage (MKX)
15. Jacqui Briggs (MKX)
16. Erron Black (MKX)
17. Kotal Kahn (MKX)
18. Shao Kahn (Classic)
19. D'vorah (MKX)
20. TER (New?)
21. KOL (New?)
22. CET (New?)
23. Kitana (Classic)
24. Maybe Rain (Classic)
25. Maybe Noob (Classic)
26. Maybe Shang (Classic)