Interesting topic. My take on this -

Not returning

Shinnok (due to MKX story)
Quan Chi (due to MKX story)
Jacqui (lack of popularity)
Jax (no Jacqui, no Jax)
Sonya (taking a break)
Ermac (taking a break, or dies in story)
Reptile (taking a break, or dies in story)
Goro (Boon insists comic is canon)
Ferra/Tor (story significance)
Mileena (due to MKX story)

Wild Card - Sub-Zero (possibly replaced by Frost?)

That makes 10 characters not returning. To replace them

2 new characters
Fujin
Havik
Noob Saibot
Sareena
Hotaru
Darrius
Shang Tsung
Cyrax

Wild Card - Shao Kahn (revenant? Champion of the Elder Gods?)

Mileena (death in story, but something tell me she will be resurrected)
Quan Chi (dead)
Jacqui (not popular among fans)
Jax (well he was retired before, so he might not come back)
Kano (dead from old age, and his son may take over)
Shinnok (like said before he is just a head)

Jason
Predator
Shinnok
Quan-Chi
Kung Lao
Mileena
Jax
Sonya Blade
Johnny Cage
Goro
Kano

Mileena
Ferra/Torr
Ermac
Jax
Tremor
Quan Chi
Shinnok
Jason
Predator

Well the first two are a given.

But I'm actually hoping this is the list of people who don't return. Kung Lao, Johnny Cage, and Sonya will be missed by me. But they are overdue for a break.

Jax
Johnny*
Sonya*
Kenshi
Quan Chi
Ferra/Torr

I think all the children/replacements are here to stay for awhile and having their parents gone could free up some moves/play styles for them. Jax I think is definitely not coming back so they can move some of this special to Jacqui and tbh she needs them.

I'm not sure about Johnny and Sonya. Their both popular but I think Cassie does a good job of filing in for both of them.

Shinnok
Kung Lao
Jax
Sonya
Kano
Mileena
Ferra/Torr
Quan Chi
Goro
Reptile

I'm pretty sure I heard everyone spew the garbage "oh cassie is in, so Johnny must be out" until he was revealed, looks like that will continue, great.. I bet his mkx ending is Canon and will learn edenian secrets to long life, and will be around for good! long story short Jacqui, jax, kung Lao, Sonya, mileena,shinnok, quan chi,and ermac will take a seat on the npc bench in mk11

I agree except for Kung Lao - he'll be in, even if irrelevant to the overall story, to cater to the tournament players. I swear, every time I look at the leaderboard stats, and I see the top players with 0% story mode completion, only 1 character used out of the entire roster, it blows my mind. For them, MK doesn't matter - it's just another tournament game to "be the best" at. Because of this, I doubt Kung Lao would be going anywhere. NRS makes bank on tournaments.

Shinnok

Reptile

Goro

Kitana

Mileena

NRS no longer gives a shit about these characters and put them in last minute as a total cash grab fan service. Designed to be bottom tier and with generic, flow chart story arcs so bland they lead to absolutely nothing. We will never see them again. Reptile has a slight chance at becoming an NPC who gets killed off in the next story mode like Baraka. Future MK's will be zainy, rebellious, oh so "cool" teen titans too busy on their smart phones to have actual interesting story lines. Everything will be sassy and "edgy." This is my nightmare at least.

Isn't Raiden also dead?

If he is dead, than Fujin will probably replace him.

Due to not being played much online
Jacqui
Ferra/Torr
Reptile
Kano

Taking a break
Jax
Sonya
Johnny
Kung Lao

Story reasons
Mileena
Quan Chi
Shinnok
(Possibly) D'Vorah

I'd like to see them replaced with Jade, Smoke, Li Mei, Fujin, Reiko, Havik, Sareena, Ashrah, Cyrax and some new characters.

Ferra/Torr
Quan chi
Mileena
Kano
Ermac
Reptile
Shinnok (sadly)

Some characters due to being unpopular and some because they have gone stale and could do with sitting a game out and making a big comeback.

Reptile he's just gotten so stale and he keeps getting worse per game, time to bench him or replace him.

Quan Chi, he's always seemed out of place with the cast and he's never been popular, time to die permanently. Liu Kang and Co. Will do very well taking his place in the Netherrealm.

Kano, this saddens me because he's never been better than he is in MKX but he's got very limited appeal and his usage is unflattering.

Shinnok: least threatening big bad in the history of MK, also a poor man's shang tsung.

Ferra Torr, dreadful concept.

As for characters not in the game that shouldn't come back I'd vote for Sindel, with Kitana being empress of Netherrealm there is no point for her character, it would be best if Kitana took some of her moves and styles, she already has a version of the air float.

Kung Lao (I think he's in for a break, unfortunately.)

Jax (break)

Sonya (break)

Jacqui (Poorly received by the fanbase, though I wouldn't be surprised if she returned to complete the Power Rangers squad.)

Shinnok (I don't think NRS likes him that much, long break incoming I fear.)

Kano (Often one of the least used characters, maybe they'll finally realize hardly anyone gives a shit about Kano. He's due for a break anyway.)

Johnny Cage (break)

Ermac (They'll limit the number of non-Scorpion/S-Z ninjas and bring back Noob Saibot and Smoke instead of Ermac and Reptile)

Reptile (See Ermac.)

Ferra/Torr (No one will miss them.)

Quan Chi (break)

Goro (break; possibly a very long one.)

Tremor (He's the Skarlet of MKX.)

Tanya (She's the Rain of MKX.)

--- --- ---

I was going to list Mileena too, but I have a feeling she'll be back. Now that she's dead she'll end up in the Netherrealm and guess who's there... Hello sister! Fun times incoming!

Shinnok
Jax
Johnny Cage
Sonya
Quan-Chi
Ferra/Torr
Goro
Kung Lao

Incorrect.

Second, I'm not even gonna speculate. I didn't think 3/4 of the characters from MKX would carry over from MK9, yet, they did.

Third, everybody saying "X won't make it because of the story"... once again, look at the carry over from MK9.

I think these will not return. Sonya- I love her but she really needs a break. NPC please. In MK12 she can come back and magically restored to young life.

Johnny Cage- See Sonya

Jax- Jax himself wants to retire.

Shinnok- One of my faves but he is now a head.

Jason/Predator- Obviously not returning.

Tremor- A one-off like Skarlet.

Ferra/Torr- Big time jobber and hardly played.

Reptile- He consistently gets worse in every game. Reptile is a big time jobber. I can see him being DLC though.

Mileena- She is dead and with Jade likely returning, there are enough of the fem ninjas. She will definitely be DLC. Kano- A long time character, but is almost always one of the least used and if Sonya isnt there, Kano will not be either. I hope Kira replaces him. Questionable Jacqui- She is part of the new group of heroes and I personally like her a lot, but she is not popular. I think she just needs a better appearance. D'Vorah- I love this character, but I dont see where she can go in the story. Ermac- There are hints of him dying because of Shang. I wpuld be fin with him sitting out. Kenshi- He is older and could retire, but he is a major fan fave and has less appearances than most fan faves. Quan Chi- He did die in story and most think he needs a break, but MKX ended up being somewhat of a remake of MK4. If this pattern continues, Quan Chi and Shang Tsung will form the Deadly Alliance once more. Goro- I honestly do not know. He can have the story, but idk if he was Definitely Returning Kung Lao- Hopefully he has a better story next time. He is a tournament favorite. I imagine Kung Jin will somehow saved him. Scorpion/Sub-Zero/Raiden- Duh Kitana- She is the new Queen of the Netherrealm. She might be a boss or something, but she will definitely be there. Cassie- She is the new hero and had a positive reception. Turdkeda- This crappy character will return because his whips, even though he is a boring generic daddy issues POS. Kung Jin- The best relative IMO. He was done perfectly. He is related to Kung Lao but can definitely exist on his own. I imagine him being a tournament fave too. Kung Jin will also lure in the Gaymers. Kotal Kahn- Postive Reception+Story=Return Erron Black- He was one of the best characters in MKX. Tanya- She will definitely be the Kenshi of MKX. She and Rain have massive story potential with them trying to take Edenia. Her gameplay is also great

Why are people assuming Ferra/Torr won't make it back because of story significance? Her story could easily be expanded upon....

And lack of popularity won't stop certain characters like Kano from returning.

My prediction is this:

1. Liu Kang
2. Raiden
3. Cage
4. Scorpion
5. Sub-Zero
6. Reptile
7. Kitana
8. Jax (replaces Jacqui)
9. Kotal Kahn
10. Erron Black
11. Cassie
12. Takeda
13. Kung Jin
14. Ferra/Torr (Replaces D'Vorah)
15. Kano (dies in MK11)

Ferra/Torr
Kung Lao
Jax
Sonya
Jacqui
Johnny Cage
Goro
Quan Chi
Shinnok

Maybe:
Mileena. I would say she'd probably sit out but Kitana's in MKX and she practically did nothing storywise. So since the sisters are both gonna be in the Netherealm next game, they could develop their story once again.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that none of the kids will return? Face it, the parent/child thing is a gimmick exclusive to this game and giving them continuity is a very risky move, most likely because it would mean them taking over their parents in the roster. I'm sure the next game will be set in another timeline/dimension/whatever and they'll reboot all the classic characters again with newbies who will be just as popular as the kids are right now.

Shinnok
Kung Lao
Mileena
Quan Chi
Sonya

Tremor

;_;

Comic is not Cannon,my friend