Regardless of that it still is not going to be cannon.

I suppose anything is possible. But I tend to doubt this. Reasons:

1. The game is NOT canon. It's basically a brawler game between two different universes with a bit of story to explain why. I doubt very much that they're going to enforce canon subplots. And even if they were, I doubt they'd use this particular one because...

2. Love him or hate him (for me personally, it's hate), Cage is one of MK's more iconic characters. He's one of the few MK characters that even the most casual gamers (or even non-gamers) would know (probably due in large part to the first MK movie.) His chances are very good.

When Boon said between MK2 and MK3, he didn't mean literally. He meant that as a frame of reference to give an idea where the characters are for this story.

Meaning, Sub-Zero isn't the Lin Kuei grandmaster yet. Sonya is still in her twenties. Shao Kahn is still Emperor of Outword. Etc. It's not meant to be seen literally like Johnny Cage is dead, Kitana's on the run from Kahn's assassins, Quan Chi hasn't revealed himself, and so on.

It's just meant to give an general idea of at what point the characters we're seeing are.

Since when has MK had any respect for its own continuity?

Cage was never officially killed in 2, from what I remember. He was doing Movies? I think in MKDA it stated MK The Death of Johnny Cage. I could be wrong though. So apologies if so.

MK Armageddon proved that Midway doesn't give a horse shit about plot.

Vogel fully retconned Cage's plot in MKDA. Cage never died; all of his game plots from MK2-MK4 were movie projects he was involved in.

As stated... game isn't canon.

actually i believe it is still canon that Cage died. still i dont think that will effect his chances of being in this game.

No.

He never transcended into the heavens, remember he did come back for Trilogy (which is canon), so that means he can be back.

OMFG it isn't canon! Why is this not a good enough explanation for any of the shit happening with the characters?!

Aaaaactually, Vogel never officially retconned Cage's history. His MKDA bio only says Johnny didn't want to make a MOVIE where he dies, because according to HIM, that would never happen. It can be taken either as a retcon OR as a joke about how Johnny would never admit that he's lost a fight. It's left intentionally vague.
Anyway, XIahouDun's right, this game's not canon, the "between 2 and 3" thing was just to offer frame of reference for which characters will appear in the game and that they'll look "traditional" as opposed to Raiden being dark and Liu being a zombie.
It's a guideline, not a rule. If this game was REALLY set between MK2 and 3, Sub-Zero's scar wouldn't be blue and the background of his render wouldn't have been the Temple of Delia, which he didn't find and turn into Lin Kuei HQ until MKDA. And one of the dogtags on Sonya's belt wouldn't read "Outer World Investigation Agency" (look reeeeeal close at the hi-res render, it's there)

People really like to run with things don't they? THE GAME ISEN'T CANON. Boon only said that because the game has alot of MK2 characters, but as boon have stated, its not canon.

since Johnny came back for trilogy i don't think it would be wise to rule him out

I also feel the need to point out that even IF Johnny isn't playable, he could still show up. In a recent interview, Ed did say there would be NPCs of that variety in the story mode.

Even if there are NPCs I still would consider Johnny Cage being a playable fighter in this game. He has his traditional shadow kick, nut punch, shadow uppercut and etc that would make him a versatile and recognizable character.

sigh, he's a waste.

he not waste he is one of the stories main characters if any thing he is the next to lead the forces of light after raiden and lui kang are gone.

None of the shit stories they come up with deserve to be canon.

since when. i can't recall off the top of my head any important thing he's done. i mean he's nostalgic because he was in the first MK so he's a fan fav but that's about it.

look it up ur self if u dont believe me oracle

Now, I'm not going to go into details with Cage, seeing how he is not a character I personally enjoy playing as in this game.

Though, why shouldn't Cage be in this game? Who cares if it's set in between the Mk2-MK3 era. So far, everyone who has been confirmed in the MK roaster, has been all the most-seen characters, which obviously will mean that there is a chance that Cage might make it into the game. But yet, you're also thinking this:

If Kitana is in the game, shouldn't Mileena be in it?

Seeing how Sub-Zero and Scorpion made it in (dur!) shouldn't Reptile be in the game?

Yeah those two charcters should be in the game, and what we've gotten so far is a pretty decent roaster, but Cage should make an appearance, despite who we're up against in the DC side. Cage should make an appearance in the game.

Johnny Cage never has had an important role in the MK story at all... not including MKA cuz really id rather just count that entire game as non-canon as well as it was so shitty and fucked every thing up in the MK story.

anyways yeah Cage dying still canon.

Well I like Johnny and would love to be able to play as him too...but I'll understand if he's left out because he's not that important. Same with Mileena and Reptile.
Plus if he DOES make it into the game, but never says the line "You just got Caged", I'll just be let down. I'd rather not have him at all than have a version that disappoints me.
Seriously. I am in love with that catchphrase. It's hilarious. Best thing Midway ever did for the character.