Ana Brenda Contreras Joins The CW's "Dynasty" as “Real Cristal” – TCA
by Nellie Andreeva
August 6, 2018


"Dynasty" fans were shocked when earlier this summer one of the stars of the reboot, Nathalie Kelley, who plays Cristal, announced that she will not be returning for Season 2.

It turns out that he exit was part of a soapy plot twist. At The CW executive session, it was announced that Ana Brenda Contreras is joining the show in Season 2 as a new character, revealed to be the real Cristal Flores.




Cristal, Alexis or Michael’s fates were left up in the air in the Season 1 finale cliffhanger, which ended with the three still trapped in a fire after Cristal also had been shot.

“We were a little surprised she spoiled the surprise,” The CW president Mark Pedowitz said of Kelley’s comments, noting that “we have plans for other characters too.”

“(Showrunner) Sallie Patrick has fun twist and turns in store.”




Asked for the reason for the recasting Pedowitz said, “it’s a wild soap, these are things you do on a soap.”

He said the decision to reveal a different Cristal was made last midseason.

https://deadline.com/2018/08/dynasty-ana-brenda-contreras-cast-real-cristal-the-cw-nathalie-kelley-1202440782/

Is this it? Sorry but I can't get used to it at all..https://youtu.be/6VIlDmr08kQ

Daniella Alonso Joins "Dynasty" Season 3 as New Cristal Jennings
by Andy Swift
July 29, 2019


Blake Carrington will have a new bride-to-be when Dynasty returns to The CW for its third season. Daniella Alonso is joining the show as Cristal Jennings, TVLine has learned exclusively, stepping in for Ana Brenda Contreras, who originated the role in Season 2.

“Unfortunately, Ana Brenda Contreras will not be returning for the third season of Dynasty due to personal reasons,” executive producer/showrunner Josh Reims tells TVLine. “We’d like to thank her for her contributions to the show and wish her all the best. We’re excited to welcome Daniella Alonso who will step into the role of Cristal.”

https://tvline.com/2019/07/29/dynasty-recast-daniella-alonso-cristal-ana-brenda-contreras/

10 TV Characters They Couldn't Stop Recasting (https://whatculture.com/tv/10-tv-characters-they-couldnt-stop-recasting?page=10)

1. Cristal - Dynasty

https://cdn3.whatculture.com/images/2022/05/b15a340763ccc06e-600x338.jpg

And finally, we have the character of Cristal (https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=387485) in the 2017 reboot of the iconic soap opera series Dynasty.

Cristal is an updated version of Krystle Carrington (Linda Evans) from the original series, and in the reboot's first season was played by Nathalie Kelley (https://www.reddit.com/r/DynastyCW/comments/g1ioky/dynasty_alumna_nathalie_kelley_has_shed_more/) for 22 episodes.

However, Kelley wasn't asked to return (https://www.reddit.com/r/DynastyCW/comments/9nsx8y/why_did_nathalie_kelley_leave_the_show/) for season two, reportedly due to executives at The CW feeling that she was a poor fit for the part.

But rather than give Cristal a straight-up recast, the decision was made, in true soap opera style, to reveal that Kelley's Cristal was actually an imposter of-sorts.

Rather, "Cristal" was actually a woman named Celia Machado, who the real Cristal (https://www.reddit.com/r/DynastyCW/comments/fw6wfu/do_you_guys_prefer_ana_brenda_or_daniella_alonso/) allowed to use her name. Celia was then shot dead (https://www.reddit.com/r/DynastyCW/comments/bkbfow/killing_off_cristal_ruined_the_show/) at the end of season one, paving the way for the legit Cristal to join the cast.

Cristal 2.0 made her debut in season two, now played by Ana Brenda Contreras, who herself departed the role (https://www.reddit.com/r/DynastyCW/comments/clyu8z/ana_had_a_personal_issue_that_we_had_no_control/) at the end of the season due to "personal reasons." (https://www.reddit.com/r/DynastyCW/comments/l4fqfa/why_was_the_real_cristal_jennings_replaced/) Daniella Alonso (https://www.reddit.com/r/DynastyCW/comments/nwrtjg/really_unpopular_opinion_but_daniella_alonso_and/) then took over playing Cristal (https://www.reddit.com/r/DynastyCW/comments/r4ulhy/rewatching_dynasty_they_forgot_crystal_30_is_the/) for Dynasty's three remaining seasons.

It goes without saying that a show as fundamentally ridiculous as Dynasty can get away with errant recasting far easier than a more serious-minded series, and at least they decided to have a little fun when giving their first Cristal the boot.