Why Did Guzman and Ander Leave 'Elite'?

Elite Season 5 is streaming on Netflix now and the students of Las Encinas are about to face a whole load of drama. From the cover-up to Armando's murder to the arrival of some new students at the prestigious school, audiences are in for a wild ride this season.

With each installment of Elite, fans sadly have to say goodbye to some of their favorite characters. By Season 5, so many of the show's original cast have left, with Itzan Escamilla and Omar Ayuso being the only two still standing.

Guzman, played by Miguel Bernardeau, and Ander, played by Arón Piper, were the latest to say goodbye to the world of Elite, but why? Newsweek has everything you need to know.

Why Did Guzman and Ander Leave Elite?

After almost a year of waiting, it has been confirmed that Guzman and Ander have officially left Las Encinas and the world of Elite.

An exact reason for their departure has not been given but it is largely down to their character's storylines and actors Miguel Bernardeau and Arón Piper's decisions to pursue other opportunities.

They are not the first Elite actors to leave the show to explore pastures new, joining Danna Paola, Ester Expósito, Álvaro Rico, and Jorge López in exiting the show.

Bernardeau and Piper did announce they would not be returning after Season 4 back in July 2021, but fans were holding out hope this was all a ruse and that they would appear just for a moment in Season 5.

Elite fans will remember that at the end of Elite Season 4, Guzmán and Ander decided to go traveling around Europe and not return to Las Encinas, the perfect exit storyline for actors Bernardeau and Piper.

After all, Guzmán had just killed a man (Armando, Ari's attacker) and it is no secret that Ander was ready to get out of Spain and figure out who he really is.

However, Guzmán and Ander's decision to leave Spain comes with some big consequences for their friends at Las Encinas.

For example, Rebe (Claudia Salas) and Samu (Itzan Escamilla) will be carrying the weight of hiding Guzmán's secret, and Omar (Omar Ayuso), Ander's boyfriend, will be processing the end of their relationship.

Sadly, Guzmán and Ander will be leaving their mess behind as actors Bernardeau and Piper will not be returning to Elite Season 5.

On July 16, 2021, Bernardeau, who plays Guzmán, posted a video on the official Elite Twitter and Instagram accounts confirming he wouldn't be back.

He said: "Hey, this is Miguel Bernardeau, and for those who have already watched the finale of Elite Season 4, I wanted to say goodbye and send you a big hug."

Bernardeau continued: "I wanted to say thank you to all the Elite team, the production, the direction, to my castmates, those who are still here and those who aren't, I'll always have you in my heart and it's been an immense pleasure working with you.

"Filming this show hasn't been easy, it's been an amazing experience, sometimes difficult but very very very constructive and we've learned a lot making it, I'm very grateful."

He ended the video with a big thanks to Netflix and Elite creators and most of all to Guzmán for teaching him "no matter who or where you are, it's never too late for change."

Since leaving Elite, Bernardeau has gone onto star in the HBO Max series Todo lo otro, also known as Dafne and the Rest, as Iñaki. He also appeared in Playa Negra as Hugo and will star in the upcoming Netflix series 1899, starring alongside Emily Beecham, Aneurin Barnard, and Andreas Pietschmann.

Piper, who played Ander in Elite, sadly also left the series with Bernardeau.

Unfortunately, the exact reason why he left is unknown but speaking in a short Netflix video, titled "Elite 4: Goodbye, Guzmán, and Ander," Piper teased: "A chapter ends but another is starting."

He added: "For me, being in Elite has been an enormous journey, very long, very hard but very enriching to be honest. And a chance, a whole new world was opened for us in the cast...like a family."

Reflecting on filming his final scene, Piper shared he "cried like a little boy."

Since leaving Elite, Piper will star in the upcoming movie Código Emperador.

Elite Season 5 is streaming on Netflix now.