Dark Raiden, Kai, Ermac have a great chance to be included in the roster.

Kenshi is a bit overused and it might be too challenging to come up with more creative swords based moves for MKXI.

Jade seems unlikely, Quan Chi has to sit the next few games out and Stryker might be redundant as many people use guns and bombs.

Here's mine. If it'll bring forth a new "Deadly Alliance".

New:
Son of Liu Kang & Kitana (from the future)*
New Sorcerer - Alchemist*
New Red Dragon - Fencer/Zorro/Musketeer*
New Black Dragon - Chemical Weapons Expert*
New Tarkatan*
Tanya
Fujin
Sareena
Li Mei
Frost - Yuki-Onna
Havik

From MKX:
Cassie Cage
Takeda Takahashi
Kung Jin
Jacqui Briggs
Kotal Kahn
Erron Black
D'Vorah
Ferra/Torr

Returning:
Scorpion
Sub-Zero
Liu Kang
Raiden (Dark)
Kung Lao
Reptile
Kitana
Mileena
Noob Saibot
Smoke
Ermac (King Jerrod)
Rain
Shang Tsung (steals some souls from Ermac along with Shao Kahn's portioned soul)

MK3:
Kurtis Stryker (Armageddon outfit)
Nightwolf
Kabal
Cyrax (SF)
Sektor (Tekunin)

NPC:
Sindel
Bo'Rai Cho

Pretty interesting ideas. I wander how a new Tarkatan would play like

Everyone counts Mileena out but no one os thinking about A. How she now has many clones. At the end of every MK she either dies and comes back to life, is imprisoned, or her ending story is somewhat to completley accurate. She got captured pretty easily, would you not think she would not bite D'Voras face off when she went to kiss her or teleport out of there or turn invisible like her new abilities? She wanted to get caught and killed so people can think she is dead. Who as killed was one of the clones of hers. Furthermore Shang Tsung isn't in his island, Havik is. I am sure Havik would live to see an army of Mileenas since she is the poster child for bi polar Outworld style. Havik loves Chaos and Mileena a ( as some call her ) par minion charachter, she causes a lot of chaos. After the fan case positives and the game promotions using her, it would be I likely that she is not part of the next game.

Take out Kung Lao, Jax, and Ferra/Torr honestly

I think

Scorpion
Sub-Zero
Dark Raiden
Fujin
Cassie
Erron Black
Tanya
Kotal
Jacqui
Kung Jin
Takeda
D'Vorah
Li Mei
Bo Rai Cho
Frost
Sindel
Kabal
Nightwolf
Smoke
Noob
Jade
Kung Lao
Ermac
Kanos Son
+4 newbies

My roster will still stand:

Scorpion
Sub-Zero
Cassie Cage
Takeda
Kung Jin
Jacqui
Kotal Kahn
Erron Black
Reptile
Ermac (King Jerrod)
Smoke (enenra)
Cyrax
Sektor
Nightwolf
Kabal
Li Mei
Sareena
Frost
Tanya
Rain
Liu Kang
Kitana
Raiden (dark)
Noob Saibot
Shang Tsung

Sub-boss: Ferra/Torr

Six new characters:
- Liu Kang & Kitana's kid from the future
- New Black Dragon - a chemical weapons expert
- New Red Dragon leader - a fencer
- New sorcerer - an alchemist (one of Onaga's acolytes)
- New Kytinn - a spider (male)
- Druid - a new recruit to the White Lotus (female)

Realistically, my predictions are

Returning from MKX

1) Scorpion
2) Sub-Zero
3) Raiden
4) Kitana
5) Liu Kang
6) Cassie Cage
7) Johnny Cage
8) Sonya Blade
9) Erron Black
10) Jacqui Briggs
11) Kotal Kahn
12) Mileena
13) Kenshi
14) Takeda

Returning from elsewhere

15) Shang Tsung
16) Li Mei
17) Jade
18) Havik
19) Taven
20) Daegon
21) Ashrah
22) Noob Saibot
23) Sarrena
24) Tanya

6-8 New Characters

DLC
- Frost
- Reiko
- Fujin
- Bo Rai Cho

Revised MKXI Roster: 4/25/15

1.Kotal Kahn
2. Scorpion
3. Sub Zero
4. Kung Jin
5. Cassie Cage
6. Rain
7. Takeda
8. Jacqui
9. Jax
10. Reptile
11. Smoke
12. Cyrax
13. Kano
14. Kabal
15. Nightwolf
16. Stryker
17. D'Vorah
18. Erron Black
19. Kitana
20. Liu Kang
21. Jade
22. Noob Saibot
23. Reiko
24. Raiden
25. Skarlet
26. Johnny Cage
27. Havik
28. Hotaru
29. Tremor
30. Fujin
31. *new
32. *new: son of Liu Kang and Kitana
33.* new: male Kytinn
34. *new
35. *new
36. *new

My ideas for roster:

Raiden
Sereena
Fujin
Kai
Sub zero
Scorpion
Noob Saibot
Smoke
Sindel
Cassie
Jaqui
Takeda
Kung Jin
Kabal
Havik
Liu kang (Boss)
Kitana
Kung lao
Shang Tsung
Li mei
Ashrah

Liu Kang
Kitana
Dark Raiden
Cassie Cage
Jacqui Briggs
Kung Jin
Takeda
Kotal Kahn
Erron Black
Nightwolf
Kabal
Smoke
Noob Saibot
Shang Tsung
Reptile
Ermac
Sindel
Cyrax
Rain
Havik
Hotaru
Kai
Reiko
Tanya
Fujin
Daegon
Ashrah
*new character*
*new character*
*new character*
*new character*
*new character*

Scorpion
Sub-Zero

From MKX:
- Cassie Cage (replacing Sonya & Johnny Cage)
- Takeda (replacing Kenshi)
- Kung Jin
- Jacqui Briggs (replacing Jax)
- Kotal Kahn
- Erron Black
- D'Vorah (not returning)
- Ferra/Torr (not returning - dead)

Returning:
- Liu Kang
- Kitana
- Raiden (Dark)
- Kung Lao
- Sindel
- Kabal
- Nightwolf
- Cyrax
- Sektor
- Reptile
- Smoke
- Noob Saibot (new ruler of the Netherrealm after Liu & Kitana)
- Ermac (King Jerrod)

Not returning:
- Kurtis Stryker (ducks out for a while after being brought back)

New:
- Fujin
- Tanya
- Li Mei
- Frost
- Sareena
- Tremor
- Liu Kang & Kitana's child (from the future)
- Onaga's acolyte: New sorcerer - an alchemist
- Onaga's acolyte: New Black Dragon - Chemical weapons expert
- Onaga's acolyte: New Red Dragon - French Fencer/Musketeer
- New tarkatan (replacing Baraka)

Anyone think we will be introduced to Kano's son in the next game? I have a feeling Johnny, Sonya, Jax and Kano will all be absent from the next game in lieu of their offspring.

I see the goal for the next game as trying to prevent Armageddon from happening

Returning from MKX (Playable)
1-Scorpion- Netherrealm Rescue. Takes it upon himself to defeat D'vorah and prevent the rise of Armageddon
2-Sub-Zero-Fujin warrior. Takes it upon himself to defeat Raiden.
3-Cassie Cage. Fights for Fujin. Trying to restore relations with Outworld and also hates Raiden for killing her parents who tried to stop him. Seeking kamidogu to prevent Onaga's rise
4-Jacqui. Leading Netherrealm Invasion to find her father and doesn't trust the gods.
5-Takeda-Seeking Taven
6-Kung Jin- Fujin ally trying to save his cousin
7-Kotal Kahn- Threatened by Earthrealm attack and becomes desparate to defend it
8-Erron Black- Seeking kamidogu for Kotal Kahn
9-D'vorah- Netherrealm would-be conquerer taking advantage of realms warring
10-Raiden- Gone dark, now attacking other realms, provoking a war that could lead to Armageddon
11-Kitana- In despair, seeks to bring forth Armageddon to destroy the Elder Gods
12-Liu Kang-Sub-boss. Wants to conquer all realms and seeks Onaga's power by gathering the Kamidogu
13-Ermac-Souls are more out of control and he becomes a weapon of Shang Tsung's, although part of him wishes to become a konqueror.

NPCS in MKX
14-Li Mei: Kotal Kahn ally also sent to search Kamidogu feeling threatened by Raiden and the new Kahn's most loyal ally. Accepts conquering the realms as a necessary evil ffxv
15-Fujin: Seeks to become new Earthrealm defender and sends Jin, Cassie, and Sub-Zero to retrieve the Kamidogu before Liu Kang can have them
16-Tanya: Seeks power in order to have Edenia to herself
17-Sareena: Seeking to liberate the revenants, even becoming the new Ashrah
18-Rain: Now seeking both the right for Edenia and trying to stop Takeda from awakening Taven

Returning from MK2011:
19- Shang Tsung: The sorcerer returns with control of Ermac and looks to take over the realms
20- Smoke/Enenra: One of the Netherrealm's demon's although Tomas Vrbada is struggling to conquer the Enenra


Return from 3D era:
21-Hotaru: The war of realms provides ample opportunity for him to establish Order as Raiden's ally. Reimagined as semi-Futuristic samurai with a focus on the naginata
22-Havik: All is going according to plan for the cleric...

Newcomers
23-Kano's son. Hates father and seeks to destroy Black Dragon from the inside and turn it into a force of good.
24-New Tigrar. An albino Shokan themed after Byakko seeking to restore glory to his race despite his low status.
25-Woman possessing Jade. Seeks to restore original timeline at all costs.
26-"Liutana" Herald of The Possessing Woman created from a future that prospered. Fights using high speed with a large bladed fan. Seeks to establish the timeline he would exist.
27-Herald of Onaga who uses illusions and moves slightly inspired by Liu Kang. Think Hornbuckle without the stupid name but looks more like a monk than the other three Kung Lao descendants
28-Punk/Gothic inspired Red Dragon devoted to chaos. Fights using some gymnastic and a chainsaw-axe disguised as an electric guitar.

29-Console exclusive of Sweet Tooth or Fulgore
30-Boss is Liu Kang fused with Onaga

DLC:
31-Cyrax
32-Frost
33-Bo Rai Cho
34-Belokk

I love your newcomer ideas! Especially the new tigrar, the punk rocker, and the herald of Onaga.
What would their variations be?

My ideas:

Scorpion
Sub-Zero
Dark Raiden (Boss)
Reptile
Rain
Kai
Kano
Jarek
Fujin
Kenshi
Johnny Cage
Cassie Cage
Takeda
Jacqui Briggs
Sareena
Tanya
Ermac
Havik
Hotaru
Reiko
Li Mei
Chameleon
Khameleon
Possessed Jade
Liu Kang
Kitana
Erron Black
Kotal Kahn
D'Vorah
Ashrah
Dairou
Darrius
Tremor
Kintaro (Sub-Boss)
*new character
*new character
*new character
*new character

Non-Playable Characters:

Sonya Blade
Jax
Kung Jin
Taven
Daegon
Ferra/Torr
Kira
Kobra (gets killed off in story mode)
Onaga
Nightwolf
Sindel
Stryker
Kabal
Kung Lao

DLC:
Smoke (also appears in story mode)
Frost
Baraka
Noob Saibot

Feel free to share your thoughts.

1.Scorpion
2.Sub Zero
3.Kung Lao
4.Kung Jin
5.Cassie Cage
6.Kotal Kahn
7.Kitana
8.D'Vorah
9.Smoke
10.Rain
11.Jax
12.Takeda
13.Nightwolf/ Kano
14.Havik
15.Raiden (Dark)
16.Jacqui Briggs
17. Liu Kang
18.Sektor
19.Ferra/Torr
20.Johnny Cage
21.Quan Chi
22.Reptile
23.Shao Kahn
24.Jade
25.Fujin
26.Erron Black
27.Skarlet
28.Cyrax
29.Reiko
30.Sonya
31.Sareena
32.Li Mei
33.*new character*
34.*new character*
35.*new character*
36.*new character*

1. Dark Raiden
2. Cassie Cage
3. Takeda
4. Kung Jin
5. Jaqui Briggs
6. Kung Lao
7. Erron Black
8. Kotal Kahn
9. Noob Saibot
10. Ermac
11. Sub-Zero
12. Liu Kang
13. Reptile
14. Scorpion
15. Kitana
16. Shang Tsung
17. Tanya
18. Kenshi
19. Skarlet
20. Smoke
21. Kano's Son
22. Kai
23. Fujin
24. Dvorah
25. New Character
26. New Character

Loose story would be Noob, Havik and Shang Tsung working together to bring war to earthrealm, outworld and netherrealm to create chaos, to make Noob ruler of the nether realm and to make Shang Tsung ruler of outworld and earth realm. Also to rid themselves of raiden and Liu Kang once and for all. Would start with noob assainating cage and making it look like an outworlder did it this would cause raiden to go mad and attack outworld for vengenacne the war would split earthrealm warriors down the middle with some on his side and some against him. Shang would deceive raiden into believing that netherrealm are aiding Kotal and outworld thus angering him further and plunging all three realms into war.

Scorpion
Subzero
Cassie
Jacqui
Kung Jin
Takeda
Kenshi
Fujin
Kotal Kahn
Erron Black
Reptile
Goro
Liu Kang
Kitana
Kung Lao
Smoke
Noob Saibot
Shang Tsung
Havik
Dark Raiden (boss)
New characters x 6 (mix of earthrealm and outworld)

Story Mode NPCs
Sonya (killed by Kano whilst escaping SF custody with D'Vorah)
Cage (killed by Noob at start to set up war between earthrealm and outworld)
Jax (killed by Erron black as per MKX ending)
Ermac (ending becomes canon and turns into Shang)
Hotaru (watches events and is set up at the end as being a future threat)
Kano (escapes SF custody kills Sonya and is killed by Cassie)
D'Vorah (escapes SF custody and is not seen again)

1) Scorpion
2) Sub-Zero
3) Cassie Cage
4) Takeda
5) Kung Jin
6) Kotal Kahn
7) Erron Black
8) Reptile
9) Dark Raiden
10) Liu Kang
11) Kitana
12) Jade
13) Taven
14) Daegon
15) Shang Tsung
16) Noob Saibot
17) Fujin
18) Frost
19) Smoke
20) Cyrax
21) Nightwolf
22) Rain
23) Tanya
24) Li Mei
25) Sareena


Possible new characters:

1) New Tarkartan leader
2) Mysterious Purple Lady from Jade's MK9 Ending
3) Jorah Mormont-like Edenian commander veteran who served King Jerrod before the fall of Edenia
4) Outworld ninja assassin who has a deep heritage with the Great Dragons especially Onaga

DLC:

1) Ashrah
2) Nitara
3) Kabal
4) Blood God Reiko

Returning:
1. Scorpion
2. Sub-Zero
3. Cassie Cage
4. Takeda
5. Kung Jin
6. Jacqui Briggs
7. Kotal Kahn
8. Erron Black
9. Reptile
10. Kung Lao
11. Nightwolf
12. Tanya
13. Fujin
14. Li Mei
15. Kenshi
16. Frost
17. Noob Saibot
18. Shang Tsung
19. D'Vorah
20. Cyrax

Sub-Bosses:
- Kitana*
- Liu Kang*

Final Boss:
- Raiden**

New Characters:
- Zhen Kang - The muay thai kickboxing son of Liu Kang and Kitana traveling through time to save his family and the remaining revenants & to prevent the Dragon King's return to the realms.
- Anansi - A spider kytinn who serves under Kotal Kahn after D'Vorah's betrayal.
- Alchemist - An alchemist an acolyte of Onaga from Outworld who secretly preparing for the Dragon King's return.
- New Tarkatan: With Baraka's death, he takes over as the new leader of his race. But also works alongside the alchemist.
- New Red Dragon member - A fencer

Based on the ending of MKX I'd say for sure characters are:

Raiden
Sub zero & Scorpion(no matter what they in lol)
revenant kitana, Liu and Kang
Cassie, jaquai, Kung Jin Takeda.
Some new characters
I also hope more recent come in, working for Liu. Aka:Smoke in a Enenra form night wolf and so on lol

Definitley
1) Sub Zero/Kuai Liang
2) Scorpion/Hanzo (Could they Devil Jin him?)
3) Raiden
4) Liu Kang
5) Kitana
6) Cassie (current champ I guess)
7) Kotal Kahn
8) D'Vorah
9) Fujin (actually kinda think its BS he wasn't in this one)
10) Jacqui Briggs

From there it kinda gets hazy. Personally I think returning from MKX

11) Erron Black - Unique look and people seem to like him
12) Kenshi - Nothing to suggest he wont be in
13) Kung Lao - Adds nothing to story but very popular
14) Kung Jin - Gotta let team newbie in on a second game.
15) Takeda
16) Reptile - I dont want him here but... hes a fucking classic character
17) Johnny Cage - Going to be the only one from the special forces higher ups in the game.
18) Quan Chi - Yes.

Returning from MK9
19) Shang Tsung - So many indicators to suggest he is coming back. Gonna take Shinnok's variations
20) Skarlet - going to be taking Mileena's variations and Ermac's colour scheme.
21) Jade - Her disappearance from the reverent gang is noticeable maybe they has a plan?
22) Smoke or Noob Saibot. Not going to have both. Money is on Smoke seeing as he had a line in this game and Noob never appears.
23) Cyrax or Sektor. Money is on Cyrax because Sektor is alive but in pieces but Cyrax isn't shown.

Cant see anyone else coming back from those two games.
Going to be more cameos in story mode than anything else.

How I think the new characters going to go
24) Kano's boy. Faster more aggressive Kano. Possibly a mentally unstable character. Probably will kill off a classic character.
25) New Tarkatan. Chance for a newbie to appear.
26) Sareena
27) New Shokan.
28) New grappler/wrestler character
29) Frost
30) A one armed fighter, kinda like Oro from SF3

And I think after 29 (MKX) and 32 (MK9) characters in the complete roster 30 starters seem reasonable.

Of course there will be DLC and preorder bonuses. I dont want them but by god you will get them

PO1 - Goro
PO2 - Shao Kahn

DLC1 Robocop
DLC2 Sindel
DLC3 Onaga
DLC4 Terminator