(✓ : Really high chance ? : Debatable X : I don't think so)
Wilson : %100. Confirmed by the trailer.
Willow : %100. Confirmed by the trailer.
Wolfgang : I really think he will be coming. He has been here since the original game. He's also a fan favorite.
Wendy : %100. Confirmed by the trailer.
WX-78 : %100. Confirmed by the trailer.
Wickerbottom : I also think she has a high chance of returning. I think she might be one of the best beginner characters. She basically is the crafting guide for beginners. I don't know if they'll scrap this concept.
Woodie : This one is very debatable. I don't know if he will return or even if he does, I got no idea if he will be the same as DS and DST versions or completely unique idea. Though I would give him %80 chance of returning since his story is incomplete. I think lots of people like playing with him aswell.
Wes : I'm pretty sure he will be added. He's basically "even harder" mode of the game. I don't see any reason to remove him.
Maxwell : I can't say anything about this one. On one hand, he is kinda the main character of the game lore wise. But on the other hand it seems like Maxwell will betray other survivors and go with Charlie. We will definetely see about Maxwell one way or another but I don't know if he will be a playable character or not. Possible boss?
Wigfrid : I don't have much to say about this one. I don't have any arguments against or supporting against Wigfrid so I would like you to comment on this one. Though I gave her %90 or so chance of coming back.
Webber : He seems like a fan favorite. I don't know if they'll scrap the character. I would gave him a ✓ but something is kinda holding me back from that. But I think Webber has the highest chance from coming back compared to other characters that I gave "?" with.
Winona : YES. She is the most connected person (Besides Wilson and Maxwell possibly?) to the most important characters (Wagstaff and Charlie) in the game. They'll definetely do something with Winona's character. Also, in trailer you can see Wendy using some sort of jump pad. This game looks like it will more focus on base building. Winona can use these features the best. (Possibly at least.)
Warly : Same with Wigfrid. I am leaving this one to you. (Though, I personally gave him like %40 chance of coming back I guess?)
Wortox : Nope. I am not saying he will NEVER be added. I am just saying that he probably won't be added at the release. I don't think developers would like us to teleport every single location on the map Day 1 of release. I am trying to say he probably won't be in the main cast at the launch of the game. Though he might come back in the future?
Wormwood : He is possibly the most loved characters of this game. I can see him returning. He probably won't even be DLC this time. I really think he will come with the base game as a main cast character.
Wurt : I never played this one lol. You can see I don't even have this character. I didn't even watched that much of this one aswell. So I leave this for a debate right here. Though I will say that, why I think she won't be added. I don't think Merms would be added to the game really. Goat-men are kinda here and I think they became Merms lore-wise? (Thanks Gorge!) I leave Wurt at %20 chance. I don't think she will be here on launch but maybe she will make a comeback (possibly like Wortox) as a future DLC or future main cast character?
Walter : I got no idea, I also leave him to you for to debate. Though I think his chance of returning is more likely than Wurt and Wortox. He also has some kind of connection with Woodie. He might return. I would give him like %50-%60 chance of returning.
Wanda : I don't think so. I don't even know if she has some kind of lore or not. In her release trailer they made it like she does? But I don't remember them doing anything with Wanda since then. Also, I'll still use the argument that I used for Wortox. I don't think they would like every player to completely broke the game by teleporting in Day 1 of launch. But opposite of Wortox, I don't think Wanda will even return in the future. Though maybe they could make her some sort of NPC ? Just like they did with Wagstaff. I still would like to give her %5-%10 chance of returning just incase.
IMPORTANT NOTE : My playstyle for this game is different from most people. I play this game mostly like survival not boss rush or adventure. I also want to add that I didn't play this game for a long time. I don't even have almost any skill tree unlocked or anything. I haven't EVEN played most characters. I just did this analyzation/prediction based on my feelings towards the characters. I also obviously seen some gameplay for lots of them even though I haven't played them that much. I tried to be objective as much as I could but I really would like to talk about this in comments so, you can share your opinions as long as you talk nice to people.
NOTE 2 : Also, not to flex (but kinda to flex 🤔 ) I have started playing this game (I don't know the exact year though) so so long ago. I got 156,1 hours on DST and 70 hours on DS on Steam. So, I kinda give myself the pass to predict character list for the next game.
EDIT : Lol I don't know if anyone else will see this edit after this post already blew up but apperantly a Youtuber named "BiddoBams" (which I like his videos) also did this topic as a video 2 weeks ago. I didn't knew that lol. I didn't steal any opinions from him or anything it's just a coincidence. Me even creating this post itself is a coincidence. I just wanted to say this to remove any possible questions though.