The Recasting of Cristal in ‘Dynasty’ Explained

Cristal is one of the most important characters on the popular primetime soap opera Dynasty. Although she has been played by three different actresses, only two different Cristals have appeared on the show. Initially portrayed by Ana Brenda Contreras, Cristal was recast in 2019 with Daniella Alonso taking the role. But what lead to this dramatic change?

According to Dynasty showrunner, Josh Reims, Contreras left due to personal reasons. While Nathalie Kelley had previously taken over the role after Contreras’ departure and explained her abrupt exit as “not up for the challenge of playing Cristal Flores,” Alonso was able to take over after Kelly’s departure.

Alonso’s portrayal of Cristal has won her a great deal of praise from fans of the series and she quickly beame an integral part of the show. Unfortunately for fans, however, there is no chance that Cristal will be pregnant in Dynasty season 4 as Alonso herself was pregnant at the time of filming.

Despite this setback, viewers can look forward to seeing more exciting storylines featuring Cristal as long as Alonso remains a part of the cast. For those unfamiliar with her character, Cristal is a businesswoman who works with her husband Blake Carrington at his company Carrington Atlantic and serves as a mother figure to his adopted daughter Fallon Carrington. She adds an important dynamic to the show and will certainly be missed if she is ever written out of it!

The Reasons Behind the Change of Cristal in Dynasty

In July 2019, Dynasty showrunner, Josh Reims, explained that actress Ana Brenda Contreras had left the series due to personal reasons. To fill the role of Cristal, telenovela star Daniella Alonso was recast in the part. The recasting was carefully considered and ultimately determined to be beneficial to the show, as Alonso had a significant amount of experience in telenovelas and was already familiar with the genre and audience. The change was also seen as a way to keep Dynasty fresh and offer new story possibilities for the character of Cristal.

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The Three Crystals of Dynasty

The three crystals in Dynasty are Nathalie Kelley as Cristal Jennings, Ana Brenda Contreras as Cristal Flores, and Daniella Alonso as Cristal Jennings.

Nathalie Kelley’s character, Cristal Jennings, was a savvy businesswoman and the fiancé of Blake Carrington when she first apeared on the show. She was killed off in the Season 1 finale after being pushed from a balcony by her ex-husband.

Ana Brenda Contreras entered the show in Season 2 as Cristal Flores, who was revealed to be an imposter sent by Blake’s enemy to sabotage his family. After her real identity was revealed, she too left the show in its fourth season due to story line changes.

Finally, Daniella Alonso joined the cast in Season 4 as the real Cristal Jennings and has been a major part of the show ever since. She is now married to Blake and is part of his inner circle of trusted confidants.

Cristal’s Departure from Dynasty Season 2

Cristal Flores, played by Nathalie Kelley, left Dynasty season 2 due to creative differences with the show’s producers. After appearing in the first season of the show, she felt that her character was not being developed in an interesting enough direction. Her character had been largely sidelined and she felt she was not given enough challenges to really bring out her potential as an actor. As such, Kelley chose to leave the show at the end of season 1 so that her character could be written out in a more meaningful way.

Is Cristal Pregnant in Season 4 of ‘Dynasty’?

No, Cristal is not pregnant in season 4 of Dynasty. The character does not have any storylines involving pregnancy during the fourth season. However, the actress who plays Cristal, Ana Brenda Contreras, was pregnant during filming of the fourth season and gave birth shortly after on March 24th, 2020. Production worked with Contreras to hide her pregnancy by covering it up with props and clothing while filming.

The Increase in Size of Cristal in Season 4

In season 4 of the show, Cristal (played by Daniella Alonso) appears slightly bigger than in previous seasons. This is due to the fact that Daniella Alonso was pregnant in real life during the filming of the fourth season. To accommodate her pregnancy, strategic camera angles and big coats were used to hide her growing belly, making it appear as if Cristal had put on some weight. This technique was successful and viewers were unaware that Alonso was pregnant until after the season had ended.

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Source: cbsnews.com

Will Steven Return in Dynasty Season 5?

Yes, Steven does come back in Dynasty season 5. In the penultimate episode, a new majordomo named Graham (played by Dan Amboyer) joins the manor. It is later revealed that Graham is actually Steven in disguise. After kidnapping Adam, Steven takes off his mask to reveal his true identity and it is confirmed that he is indeed Steven.

Revealing Cristal Carrington’s Secret

Cristal Carrington’s secret was that she had discovered she was pregnant, but did not know who the father of the baby was. This was due to her having slept with her ex-husband during the brief time in which she was away from the manor. She chose to keep this information hidden from Blake, who was excited at the prospect of having another child.

Does Cristal Have a Twin Dynasty?

No, Cristal does not have a twin in the show Dynasty. However, there is an interesting sense of irony surrounding Cristal’s doppelgänger, Rita. Alonso Revees took over the role of Cristal from Ana Brenda Contreras, who bears no resemblance to her. However, Rita looks identical to Cristal and serves as her doppelgänger. It is this ironic twist that has made Rita such an intriguing character for fans of the show.

The Reasons Behind the Change of Cristal in Season 3

The showrunner of Dynasty, Josh Reims, announced in July 2019 that Ana Brenda Contreras would not be returning to the show for its third season due to personal reasons. This necessitated a recast of the role of Cristal Jennings. While the exact reason for Contreras’ departure has not been revealed, it is likely that she was no longer able to commit to the filming schedule and production demands associated with the role. As such, actress Daniella Alonso has now taken on the part of Cristal Jennings and will appear in season 3.

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Source: dynastytv.fandom.com

Has Alexis Been Replaced on ‘Dynasty’?

Yes, Alexis on Dynasty was replaced near the end of the second season. Elizabeth Gillies, who stars as Alexis’s daughter Fallon, played the role of Alexis for three episodes before it was recast with Elaine Hendrix for season three. The recasting of the character was due to actress Joan Collins leaving the show in order to focus on other projects.

The Reason Behind Kelly’s Departure From Dynasty

Kelley exited the series Dynasty after Season 1 due to creative differences. She felt that the writing was boxing her in and the show ultimately decided to start afresh, leading to her being let go from the series. While she was dissatisfied with some of the material from Season 1, Kelley respected the show’s decision and moved on.

The Reason Behind Ana’s Departure From Dynasty

Ana Brenda Contreras left Dynasty due to a personal issue that was beyond the control of the CW. She was replaced by Daniella Alonso in the role of Cristal.

Do Cristal and Blake Have a Child?

No, Cristal and Blake do not have a kid. After they got engaged, Cristal became pregnant with Blake’s child; however, she suffered a miscarriage due to an attempted murder by Alexis.

The Divorce of Cristal and Blake on ‘Dynasty’

No, Cristal and Blake do not get divorced in Dynasty. After his failed marriages with Alexis Morell and Celia Machado, Blake eventually marries Cristal Jennings in the third season of Dynasty. Through the course of their marriage, they experience a multitude of ups and downs that ultimately lead to their relationship becoming stronger than ever. Despite numerous obstacles and potential roadblocks, they remain committed to each other and work through their issues together. By the end of the series, Cristal and Blake are still happily married.

Is Blake the Father of Crystal’s Unborn Child?

At this time, it is not definitively known whether Blake is the father of Cristal’s baby. Cristal has not yet confirmed who the father is and there is no conclusive evidence to support either claim. Until Cristal takes a paternity test, the truth will remain unknown.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is clear that the character of Cristal Flores has been through a bit of a roller coaster ride. She has had three different actors portray her, with Nathalie Kelley’s abrupt exit due to not being up for the challenge of playing her, and Ana Brenda Contreras leaving due to personal reasons. Currently, Daniella Alonso is portraying Cristal on Dynasty season 4. While she may not be pregnant in this season, it is evident that the character’s story arc has been through many chnges over the years. It will be interesting to see how her story continues in the future seasons of Dynasty.

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William Armstrong

William Armstrong is a senior editor with H-O-M-E.org, where he writes on a wide variety of topics. He has also worked as a radio reporter and holds a degree from Moody College of Communication. William was born in Denton, TX and currently resides in Austin.