By 
First rule of being a soap fan? Never get too attached. The CW’s Dynasty is leaning heavily into its genre staple with yet another big casting shakeup. TVLine is exclusively reporting that Ana Brenda Contreras will not return for the series’ third season. The role will be recast with Daniella Alonso.
Executive producer Josh Reims told TVLine: “Unfortunately, Ana Brenda Contreras will not be returning for the third season of Dynasty due to personal reasons. 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.”
This is the latest in high-profile cast turnover for the little CW drama that could. Original star Nathalie Kelley, who played the first Cristal Flores aka Celia Machado, departed after the first season. Brenda Contreras was tapped to play the “real” Cristal Flores for Season 2. Original cast member James Mackay (Steven Carrington) was bumped to recurring in the second season. And of course the mother of all exists – Nicollete Sheridan (Alexis Carrington) exited the sophomore season and was temporarily recast with her on-screen daughter Elizabeth Gillies (who plays Fallon). Yikes.
So who is the new Cristal? New York native Daniella Alonso is a model-turned-actress with over two television dozen credits. She has soap experience — one of her early credits was a three-month stint on CBS’ As the World Turns as Pilar Domingo. She would go on to appear in regular and/or recurring roles in One Tree Hill, Friday Night Lights, My Generation, Revolution, The Night Shift, Being Mary Jane, Animal Kingdom and The Resident.
Dynasty returns for its third season Friday, October 11 at 9PM. Past seasons are available to watch on Netflix.
Comments