When Jenna Ortega didn’t return for Season 4 of You, the actress shared she was both "devastated" and “bummed out” she couldn’t play Ellie again due to her Wednesday shooting schedule, and apparently that happened again for the last season. As You showrunner Michael Foley told Business Insider:

You Season 5 came and went without a single glimpse of Ellie Alves. And while some fans still held out hope for a last-minute cameo, Jenna Ortega never showed up.

The You season 5 showrunners explain why Jenna Ortega doesn't return for the show's final season and what her character's storyline would have been.