Stay:
Mavado
Sindel
Kitana
Tanya
Jade
Kung Lao
Sonya Blade
Jax Briggs
Sub-Zero
Raiden
Frost
Jarrek
Mileena
Kenshi
Kano
Nitara
Ermac

Leave:
Cyrax
Sektor
Noob
Smoke
Li Mei
Liu Kang
Hsu Hao
Darrius
Dairou
Onaga
Shao Kahn
Shinnok
Bo' Rai Cho
Shang Tsung
Ashrah
Kabal
Kobra
Kira
Nightwolf
Scorpion
Hotrou
Havik
Shujinko
Sheeva
Baraka
Reptial
Drahmin
Johnny Cage
Quan Chi
Moloch

Return:
Baraka
Cyrax (with energy net)
Ermac
Fujin
Havik
Hotaru
Jade
Kabal
Kintaro
Kira
Mileena
Noob-Smoke (black-ethereal)
Quan Chi
Raiden (dark)
Rain
Reptile (non-mk:da)
Scorpion
Sektor
Sheeva
Shinnok
Sindel
Sub-Zero

Vanish:
Bo' Rai Cho
Chameleon
Darrius
Hsu Hao
Kai
Liu Kang
Mavado
Mokap
Shujinko
Tanya

i think every character should return. i loved playing Trilogy just because you could use almost any character you wanted to.

but there are a few people i hate, like Drahmin, he should be gone forever. also:
Bo Rai Cho
Hsu Hao
Sheeva
Stryker

but above all, Kabal must be there, and mavado just so i can beat the living crap outta him with Kabal **oops** forgot that Nitara must return, just because i was good with her =P

I don't think Darrius should return, I found that his story did not mesh well with the Mortal Kombat universe. Also, when I played as him I felt as if I were playing as both Johnny Cage and Cyrax. If Darrius should return he should have a story that fits in with the entire Mortal Kombat universe and alter his appearance.

Not counting obvious choices, Sub Zero, Scorpion and Raiden, who we know for sure will be back, like it or not. Or non canon extras like Mokap who are very unlikely to return.

Bring them back.

Johnny Cage
Mavado
Li Mei
Kung Lao
Nitara
Stryker
Kai
Kira (with her own moves this time)


Dump them.

Kobra
Reiko
Shujinko
Bo Rai Cho (MIGHT accept him without puking/farting)
Tanya
Dairou
Shinnok
Cyrax

From Deception:

Dump: Bo' Rai Cho, Dairou, Darrius, Hotaru, Kira, Kobra, Nightwolf and Onaga

Keeping: Ashrah, Baraka, Ermac, Goro, Havik, Jade, Kabal, Kenshi, Li Mei, Liu Kang, Mileena, Noob Saibot, Raiden, Scorpion, Shao Kahn, Shujinko, Sindel, Smoke, Sub-Zero and Tanya.

From Deadly Alliance:

Dump: Blaze, Drahmin, Hsu Hao, Mavado, Mokap, Moloch and Nitara

Keeping: Cyrax, Frost, Jax, Johnny Cage, Kano, Kitana, Kung Lao, Quan Chi, Reptile, Shang Tsung and Sonya

From MK4:

Dump: Jarek, Kai, Meat and Reiko

Keeping: Fujin and Shinnok

From Trilogy:

Dump: Chameleon, Khameleon, Motaro, Sheeva and Stryker

Keeping: Kintaro, Rain and Sektor

Final dump list: Bo' Rai Cho, Dairou, Darrius, Hotaru, Kira, Kobra, Nightwolf, Onaga, Blaze, Drahmin, Hsu Hao, Mavado, Mokap, Moloch, Nitara, Jarek, Kai, Meat, Reiko, Chameleon, Khameleon, Motaro, Sheeva and Stryker. 24 total

Final returning cast: Ashrah, Baraka, Ermac, Goro, Havik, Jade, Kabal, Kenshi, Li Mei, Liu Kang, Mileena, Noob Saibot, Raiden, Scorpion, Shao Kahn, Shujinko, Sindel, Smoke, Sub-Zero, Tanya, Cyrax, Frost, Jax, Johnny Cage, Kano, Kitana, Kung Lao, Quan Chi, Reptile, Shang Tsung, Sonya, Fujin, Shinnok, Kintaro, Rain and Sektor. 36 total

I think that's everyone accounted for.

should return: Sektor, Reiko, Johnny Cage, Quan Chi, Goro,
Reptile (whit his mask), Shang Tsung but keep all the ninjas

should not return: Hsu Hao, Drahmin, Shinnok, Sheeva, Stryker, (Motaro)