Scorpion and Sub-Zero are a given.

Kano I doubt. His story's gotten very bland, he supposedly dead now, and I think the majority of fans would rather he stays gone or sists out another game.

Actually I think Sektor is more likely to return than Cyrax. Judging from the cyborg related threads on this forum, Sektor is the most wanted of the three, while Cyrax is the least.

Raiden seems very likely, especially with the new story direction he's taken.

Ermac is also likely. He's grown very popular and may become a somewhat important figure down the line.

I think Jax is in the same boat as Kano. However, I've been told the MK team likes Jax and unlike Kano, he's apparently still alive so his return is more likely. All I'll say is if he comes back he needs a massive story boost.

Kung Lao is also very likely. Unfortunatly, it seems Liu Kang may be back for good, too.

If Onaga's gone than I'm sure Reptile will come back one way or another.

I wouldn't be surprised if the fighting engine stays the same, but I know many would rather they try to change it.

If deathtraps come back, I hope they make it more difficult to get someone into it. A lot of the deathtraps in Deception were too easy.

The death traps should go back to the way they were, by each character having a combination to execute the trap. That way it is not an instant death. It also cuts down the cheapness that some people may fell about them.

I like Sektor, but my favorite would be Smoke. I hope he is by himself next game. Having Noob-Smoke is too strange for me.

It will be unfortunate when Lui Kang does come back. I say he should stay dead.

I think Kira may replace Kano, come to think of it.

This is what I think....

Well Scorpion and Sub-Zero are in EVERY game aren't they...

- Raiden (He getting pushed up for something big)
- Fujin (To confront Raiden)
- Quan Chi (He'll return)
- Shang Tsung (see Quan)
- Liu Kang (Sadly)
- Ermac (Definitely, because of the one being thing)
- Kung Lao (He'll be with Kang)
- Sonya (Because of Ermac's ending)
- Jax (See Sonya)
- Johnny Cage (See Sonya)
- Kitana (See above)
- Jade (She's saving Edenia)
- Sindel (She'll be with Jade)
- Kabal (Because of Mavado and the BDC)
- Mavado (I don't want him to return but I got a feeling he will)
- Kira (She's in the BDC)
- Havik (He'll do something, don't know what though)
- Shao Kahn (He'll play a part somewhere)
- Goro (Will be with Shao Kahn)
- Frost (I think she will come back)
- Noob Saibot (He's about to become something real big)
- Smoke (Cause he's with Noob, or is he....)
- Ashrah (I reckon she'll save Smoke and feud with Noob)
- Reptile (Depends if the DK is dead though)
- Nitara (She'll probably return)
- Cyrax (Not totally sure but if so then it's with Nitara. Maybe return for MK8)
- Sektor (Well everybody wants him back)
- Either Mileena or Baraka (One will be dead though)
- Either Dairou or Hotaru (One will be dead though.)

Nice list.
Some people want Rain back. I think he is one character that may never be seen again. Of course this is the MK world, so anything is possible. Maybe he makes an apperence in MK:SM.
I just hope that if SMoke and Noob return, they will be seperate characters. I don't want any more "join" characters. It was most likely done because of time, but I would rather have none of that happen again.

Sub-Zero and Scorpion are for sure in the next Mortal Kombat game.

Raiden is an icon in Mortal Kombat and I would expect him to return in the next game aswell. Given Raiden's new approach I believe he will play an even more important role in the story.

Liu Kang I hope to see in the next Mortal Kombat game, many fans on this site would disagree with me. Liu Kang is a classic character and every character deserves a chance to progress in more development. If it were not for Liu Kang in Deception, none of the other classic characters that I love would return.

Ermac has really undergone a massive improvement. Ermac now has a purpose in the Mortal Kombat games and he is an incredibly popular character now. I love the direction Ermac is going and when he is in the next Mortal Kombat game, I will be sure to add him as a new favorite of mine.

Johnny Cage, Kung Lao, Sonya, and Jax I believe are going to be in this next game. In Ermac's ending you see them all saved by Liu Kang and Ermac. To me, a Mortal Kombat game is not complete without these characters. Deception kept me going with Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Liu Kang, and Raiden. I believe that all the classic characters are a must in Mortal Kombat games and if they are to be let go, let them go in honorable ways.

Kitana I know will be in another Mortal Kombat game, I don't compare her with the Earth's warriors because she is not of them. I would see Kitana returning to Edenia and regrouping with Jade to fight against her evil twin Mileena.

I hope that the Red Dragon return, it was a mystery on what happened to that clan in Deception. One minuet they are dominating the Special Forces and plotting against the Lin Kuei. Then in the next minuet they disapear and the only evidence left of them in Deception was Kenshi and Kabal along with a stage to fight in. I would expect Mavado to return with some new muscle backing him up now that Hsu Hao is dead.

Reptile is a fan favorite and I expect him to return. Reptile I think should change his alliance and side with the good guys for once. If Reptile is freed from Onaga's control then perhaps his memory could be wiped out or he could be desperate. Reptile needs a master and in the history of the Mortal Kombat games he always gets abused. I believe a character such as Kitana would pity Reptile and have Reptile serve under them. It could add tension between Kitana and Jade because both of them would feel different about this character.

Noob Saibot is now a very important character to the Mortal Kombat story. He is a gift to Sub-Zero and Scorpion fans because he is a key that could bind both of their stories together and we could see an epic showdown. I love what the team has done with Noob Saibot and in the next game I hope they elaborate on this character.

Sektor and Cyrax I think should return in this new game. Many fans on this site are big fans of Sektor (Especially that Sektor 13 kid on here) I believe that in this next game, have both Sektor and Cyrax as enemies. Both of them are like a Yin Yang, one is on the side of good the other is darkness. I would like Cyrax to continue his involvement in the Special Forces but in this next game have him caught in the middle of the Lin Kuei and Tekunin struggle.

Kenshi I liked in both Deception and Deadly Alliance. He is a very fun character to use and his story keeps getting better. I liked how he wandered Outworld with Sub-Zero. Kenshi is also a good friend to Ermac and since Ermac is most likley on Earth's side, I believe the two are going to be new members of Earth's chosen warriors.

Bo' Rai Cho also should make a return. Most do not like his dirty ways, but if you look past all of that you have a great character. Bo' Rai Cho's ending has really changed my view on that character and playing as him is really fun. I hope that Li Mei turns on Bo' Rai Cho and complicates his story. I expect Bo' Rai Cho to be mostly invovled with Outworld's and Edenia's struggle while aiding Earth's warriors.

Baraka is the leader of the Tarkata and from the looks of things, that race is not going anywhere. Baraka is a great character and he is always on the side of evil. I hope that Midway thinks of some very interesting twists he can undergo in his story and involve many people to tie in with his story. Baraka is a classic and should definatley return.

Now that Raiden is going haywire, I expect to see Fujin make a return since his long absense since Mortal Kombat 4. Fujin can undergo a major change since we last saw him in Mortal Kombat 4 and he has great potential knowing that he is a god of wind.

Crap I forgot Rain in my list. He does need to come back and seems like most people want him back. But he'll have to get a huge makeover similar to Ermac.