Due to starring in Netflix’s showWednesday, Jenna Ortega was unable to make a reappearance on the showYou. Appearing asTara Carpenter inScreamand Lorraine inXjust this past year, the twenty-year-old actress has been keeping busy since she starred in Netflix’s psychological thrillerYou. Based on the novel of the same name,Youstars Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg, a bookstore manager with sinister tendencies that often spell disaster for those that capture his attention.
Fans of the showwill remember Ortega’s character Ellie Alves, a neighbor of Joe’s and one of the few people to come into his life and live to tell the tale. Created for the show, Ellie is a precocious teenager with a troubled past and a passion for movies. While she is referenced in later seasons -specifically by Joe in season 3, who says he continues to send her money - Ortega’s character has been absent from the show since season 2 ended.
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Ortega’s absence fromYouwas not part of the initial plan for her character. Unfortunately, Ortega’s schedule hasn’t allowed her to reprise her role as Ellie. Betweenplaying the brooding lead of Netflix’sWednesdayand reprising her role as Tara Carpenter in the newest entry into the Scream franchiseScream VI, Ortega’s time has been taken up by other projects. “We wanted to bring Ellie back and we heard ‘Oh, Jenna is doing some show,'“Youshowrunner Sera Gamble told IndieWire. “It’s been such a pleasure to see Jenna this year. We have ideas for Ellie if her schedule allows her to visit us again.” Gamble also noted that due to the nature of Joe’s character - specifically, his vivid imagination - the possibilities forseason 4 appearances are wide-ranging. According to Gamble, viewers shouldn’t count out any characters from reappearing, living or dead.
Ortega has also voiced her desire to return toYou. In 2019,she was quoted by Teen Vogueas saying, “It would be amazing to see Ellie come back and take control of her life. I just want her to be an even bigger badass. I don’t want her to come back and be extremely vulnerable and sad. We have to remember that even though people still find Joe somewhat charming, he’s evil, he does terrible things, and he gets away with them because of his gender and race and his position in society. [Ellie] has so much potential and so much talent that she shouldn’t waste because of him.”
It may be that Ortega’sYoudays are behind her. With her continued presence on the big screen, it wouldn’t be surprising if Ortega wasn’t able to return toYou. She appeared in four movies last year -The Fallout,Studio 666,Scream, andX, and this March she’ll be starring in her secondScreammovie, a franchise known forkeeping characters around as long as possible. With her continued presence on the big screen, it wouldn’t be surprising if Ortega wasn’t able to return toYou.
Gamble and Ortega’s desire to see Ellie back in Joe’s twisted world is encouraging for fans who’ve missed the ambitious, independent teenager’s presence. While Ortega’s career shows no signs of slowing down, her affection for Ellie and ideas about the character’s growth since she was last on screen show that there’s certainly a possibility that she could make her return toYouin upcoming seasons.
Season 4 ofYouis available to stream now on Netflix.
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