Written by Rick Ellis, Sunday, March 28th, 2004

Chris Carmack, who plays Luke Ward on Fox's The O.C., may not be returning to the show next season.

The NY Post is reporting that the actor has declined to sign a new contract with the show because producers refused to guarantee him airtime in the upcoming year. There have been reports circulating that he may leave the show, but those rumors have centered on Carmack's supposed salary demands.

"It's not about money," Carmack's rep, Jerry Shandrew, told the Post. "They gave him a generous raise. They just refused to give him a guarantee. He's bummed people would think he would leave the show because of money. Chris has a lot going on. He couldn't sign a contract without a guarantee. He is doing a movie with Dennis Hopper for USA, 'The Last Ride,' and has some other things on the table. Chris decided to keep on working without a contract and pursue other roles."

Other actors on the series, including Benjamin McKenzie, Mischa Barton, Peter Gallagher and Adam Brody, are said to already have signed contracts that do give them guaranteed airtime.