Honorable Mentions (since Capcom has said "over 30," maybe some of these characters will make the game proper, maybe some of these will show up as DLC, but I don't see them making it before any of the above characters:)
Akuma - The meanest Street Fighter villain around, Akuma would definitely be a cool unlockable character.
Amaterasu/Chibiterasu - The Okami/Okamiden stars would definitely have a different play style. If I had to pick one, I'd go with Amaterasu, though that weird play style may keep them out of the game completely.
Blanka - His snub from MvC2 dumbfounded quite a few fans. He's got an outside shot at making the roster.
Dhalsim - A Street Fighter favorite, Capcom mentioned they wanted to pick character with interesting moves. I don't know who better fits the bill than Dhalsim, but with so many Street Fighter characters already selected, I wouldn't be surprised if he got left out (no matter how heartbroken I'd be.)
Hayato - A relatively unknown character, Hayato's lightsaber-like sword definitely piqued gamers' interests in MvC2. DLC sounds within the realm of possibility.
Jin - Like Hayato, Jin is another relatively unknown Capcom character whose skills in MvC caught 
people's attention. Also like Hayato, I think Jin is destined for DLC.
Ken - Trying to make a varied roster, I think Capcom will give Ken the boot for playing too similarly to Ryu.
Killer 7 - Yeah, the game was a flop, but the character is cool. Unfortunately, the time commitment of modeling seven people for a single character makes him/them unlikely.
Phoenix Wright - A character who almost made it into TvC, Phoenix Wright seems like a possible fan-favorite. If Capcom can figured out the logistics for him, I could see him making it.
PTX-40A - The Lost Planet mech's appearance in TvC gives him an outside shot at MvC3, but I think Capcom will scrap the really large characters. Though how cool would it be to see one of these fight a Sentinel?
Radd Spencer - While the latest Bionic Commando game was kind of a joke, the character of Radd Spencer appears perfect for a this type of game.
Sagat - Another popular Street Fighter character, I think Sagat has the least chance to see daylight, but I'll put him on the list anyway.
Sakura - Though I don't see the appeal, fans like Sakura. With only five women in my original picks, I'd understand if Capcom added her.
Strider Hiryu - Strider appears to be a strong choice, but he hasn't had his own game for over a decade and that could severely hurt his chances. As DLC though, his odds go way up.
Gambit - Quite possibly the coolest Marvel character of all time, Gambit's chances are decent, despite not really having a large mainstream fan base.
Juggernaut - If you're looking for big guys, he's got to be near the top of your list, but he's far from being a "lock."
Psylocke - Speaking of locks, Psylocke could definitely see some face time in MvC3. Her psychic 
powers might be better suited as a download though.
Rouge - With little Marvel female representation in my original list, Rouge has a great chance of making the roster, I just don't see who she'd replace.
Sabertooth - Wolverine's sworn enemy, Sabertooth has always been a little underwhelming in these types of games. Maybe Capcom will make him better or maybe they'll leave him out entirely.
War Machine - While initially appearing as an Iron Man palette swap, the new Iron Man movie and vocal fan base make him a perfect unlockable or DLC character.
Alright, well that was exhausting. I'm sure many of you (if not all of you) disagree with my list. Maybe you think the Thing or the Sentinel has a better shot. Or MvC original characters like Amingo and Ruby Heart. Hell, maybe you think Servbot will make his triumphant return.
In any case, here's my proposal: e-mail me ([email protected]) your own list of 30 (15 Marvel and 15 Capcom) and I'll compile and hang on to the data (or just leave them in the comments, though I'd prefer an email.) Then when MvC3 comes out in a year, we'll see how everyone did. I'll even make a post with some statistics once everyone gets me their lists.
I'll give you two weeks to send in your entries (that give you until Friday, May 7.) Who knows, if I get enough entries, I might even have to get a prize for the winner.
And as a special treat to all of those that got this far, here is a custom Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 wallpaper I spent two hours in Photoshop making. Enjoy!
