Why Jenna Ortega won’t be In 'You' season 5 & the scrapped storyline revealed

Ellie’s return was scrapped, leaving fans to wonder what could have been.

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.