SPOILERS
SPOILERS
Actually, the lead characters from the original do return, about midway through the film, picking up right where the original left off.
Characters yes, actors no.
SPOILERS BELOW.....
They don't last long but it does pick up from the original as well as could be hoped for, given the time between films.
Was a little surprised they even bothered to show a scene with a replacement Jarrod; pre brain-pull, but it did tie the films together nicely. I, for one, thought it was pretty damn good.