Skylar Astin and The Treblemakers not returning for Pitch Perfect 3

Skylar Astin won't be returning for the third installment of the Pitch Perfect franchise.

The actor, who starred in the 2012 musical comedy and its 2015 hit sequel, shared via Twitter on Thursday (15Dec16) that he and the movie's main all-boy a cappella group won't be in the new film.

"Yes. As of now, the Trebles and I won't be in the third Pitch Perfect movie," he wrote. "They seem to be taking the story in a different direction."

In the first two movies, Astin's character Jesse, along with fellow Treblemakers, Bumper (Adam Devine) and Benji (Ben Platt), continually competed against Barden University's female singing group The Barden Bellas, which included Beca (Anna Kendrick) and Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson).

Additional details on the plot of the upcoming film have not yet been released, but it will be directed by Trish Sie and produced by Elizabeth Banks.

And it seems Astin and his wife Anna Camp, who has signed on to reprise her role as Aubrey in the flick, were already aware of the film's shake-up.

"I've heard that they may be taking the girls in another direction this time, but this is not the end of the line for Jesse because he's not dead," Astin said during a chat with PopSugar recently. "I know that, so they could always bring him back in some form, or maybe a spin-off, or who knows if he'll be a late addition to the third."

As well as Kendrick and Wilson, key stars Brittany Snow and Hailee Steinfeld have also signed on for another edition of the comedy. While it was reported earlier this week that Orange Is the New Black star Ruby Rose is on her way to join the star-studded cast as well.

Pitch Perfect 3 is slated to hit theaters in December next year (17).