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With many fans wondering about the reason behind Jenna Ortega‘s absence in You Season 5, showrunners Michael Foley and Justin W. Lo have come out to explain why her character was missing from the show’s final installment. Ortega joined the cast of You in its second season as Ellie Alves, an up-and-coming filmmaker in her teens who becomes the neighbor of Penn Badgley’s Joe Goldberg.

Jenna Ortega’s character, Ellie Alves, won’t be returning for You season 5 despite earlier plans for her involvement.

Ortega first joined the show in season 2, playing the role of Joe’s (Penn Badgley) teenage neighbour, whose life was disrupted by Joe’s murderous ways.

After her sister Delilah (Carmela Zumbado) was killed by Love Quinn (Victoria Pedretti), Joe sent Ellie away to protect her.

However, You season 5 showrunners Michael Foley and Justin W. Lo revealed that Ortega’s commitments to Wednesday season 2 in Ireland made her return impossible.

Foley explained that despite wanting Ortega back for the final season, “it just seemed like a non-starter” due to her Wednesday filming schedule.

They had initially planned for Ellie to serve as a benefactor to the season’s internet vigilantes, Dominique (Natasha Behnam) and Phoenix (b), but this idea ultimately fell through.

Lo also hinted that Ellie, having experienced Joe’s violent nature first-hand, likely would have turned against him, saying, “Ellie’s very smart and she probably knows that he had something to do with her sister’s death, even though it was Love.”

Though she didn’t physically return, Ellie’s character was still referenced in seasons 2 and 3, with Joe continuing to support her financially.

As the series finale approaches, fans were left wondering if Ellie’s return might have added a fresh twist to the show’s conclusion.

Despite Ortega’s absence, the unresolved tension between Ellie and Joe’s past could have played a significant role in the final season’s narrative.

Joe’s protective feelings toward Ellie might have made her potential betrayal even more heartbreaking for him.

Jenna Ortega isn’t in You Season 5 because of Wednesday’s filming schedule

In a recent discussion, Michael Foley and Justin W. Lo noted that Jenna Ortega’s commitment to Wednesday Season 2 forced them to drop their plans to write her character into You’s final season. The duo also shed light on how Ellie’s arc would’ve progressed in Season 5 if not for Jenna Ortega’s involvement in Wednesday.

While speaking with Business Insider, Foley explained why Ortega did not return for You Season 5. “That was complicated by the fact that she’s doing Wednesday in Ireland and it just seemed like a non-starter. We just couldn’t figure out a way to make it work,” the seasoned TV producer stated.

Foley then remarked that if they were able to include the 22-year-old actress in You Season 5, Jenna Ortega’s Ellie would’ve served as a benefactor to Dominique and Phoenix. Lo also opened up on how Ellie and Joe’s trajectories could have panned out in Season 5, noting, “You could make an argument for pro-Joe because he was there for her during a very difficult time in her life. But you could also say, I think Ellie’s very smart and she probably knows that he had something to do with her sister’s death, even though it was Love. So she could have turned against him as well.”

You Season 5 premiered on Netflix on April 24 with 10 episodes. Meanwhile, the Jenna Ortega-led Wednesday Season 2 will come out later this year in two parts. Part 1 of the season will hit Netflix on August 6, with Part 2 premiering on September 3.