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‘Dynasty’ Recasts and Departures Addressed By EP and CW President

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: CW

On Sunday at the CW’s TCA Summer Press Tour, the changing and revolving door of cast changes was bantered about during the network’s executive session. As fans of the Dynasty reboot know, the role of Cristal has now been recast twice.

First, following Nathalie Kelley’s exit at the end of the first season, Ana Brenda Contreras took over the role for season 2, but now, as had been previously reported, she is being replaced by actress Daniella Alonso ahead of season 3.  Contreras was said to be leaving for personal reasons.

And if that was not confusing enough, there was the exit of James MacKay as Steven Carrington when back in November of 2018 he announced via his Instagram: “While Steven had a choice to leave, unfortunately I didn’t. There’s a lot of decisions involved in making television, and sometimes they just don’t go your way and you have to live with it.”  However, MacKay returned to the show on recurring status making a few appearances since that time.

Then, there was the exit of Nicollette Sheridan, who left for personal reasons as well, in the key role of Alexis Carrington and who was replaced by Elizabeth Gilles who apparently now is playing a dual role on the show that of Fallon and Alexis, but is she moving forward?  And then .. behind the scenes the original reboot showrunner Sallie Patrick made her exit to go into development ahead of season 2; where she was replaced by Josh Reims.

CW President Mark Pedowitz had this to say to the press about the cast departures: “We hoped (Ana Contreras) would continue but she had personal issues we had no control over.  There’s no dirt to be found.”  Pedowitz was dismissing a theory that there was a bigger underlining issue going on behind the scenes.

Dynasty executive producer Josh Schwartz added to Deadline:“Some (casting changes) were made for creative decisions, some were made for personal reasons, and just a confluence of things that happened in succession but it’s not part of a larger pattern. And on the showrunner front, Sallie ran the show for two seasons on a 22-episode model.  It was always her plan to pass the baton after a couple of seasons. Josh is an excellent and experienced showrunner.”

So, what do you think about all the casting changes at Dynasty and we are only at the start of the 3rd season.  Comment below.

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Honestly, it’s messy that we’re on the third season and there’s already a third face portraying the role of Cristal. Admittedly, when Nathalie Kelley left, I was skeptical concerning the casting of Ana Brenda Contreras, however, the “real” Cristal was fun and refreshing, so I welcomed her. Also, nuCristal (Daniella Alonso) looks a bit too old to be replacing Contreras. If anything, she should be replacing Kelley in her version of a returning Cristal, etc.

Either way, I will still be tuning in, because Dynasty is a fantastic, primetime soap opera that I’m hoping makes it to a fourth season. This is an ensemble cast and that’s what it should continue to be about. I’m looking forward to seeing what Josh Reims does with the series, as well.

Well people leave for various reasons. Hopefully this Cristal will work out..as for Alexis there are many actresses that can fill that role..too bad Nicolette had to leave. Get someone like Kim Catrell..good age and would be amazing as Alexis..the show needs a few more seasoned players to make it work to get more interest from viewers. Not that the cast is bad. But it seems Elizabeth Giles is holding this show down.

Too confusing to keep up with all these changes. All I really care about is how it translate to what we see on the screen. I do think that Steven was a big loss for the show and I’d rather not see Elizabeth Gilles continue to play Alexis, it’s too jarring, though I thought she did a great take on it.

This show sounds like a train wreck.

Why don’t they just get a new Cristal every season? Seriously, I’m a fan of the show and love the soapy drama but this is somewhat distressing as a viewer. Kind of hard to grow attached to a character when the actor or actress in the role has a limited shelf life. I just hope that they do right by Elizabeth Gilles. She truly is the breakout of this show and the one to watch.

Also, can we do better by way of the writing? Loved that they paid homage to the original with the horse being spooked this resulting in a miscarriage. Mine the source material for more instances where homage is paid to what actually made Dynasty a hit.

I would of LOVED to see Heather Locklear play Alexis since she was on the original.
HEAR THAT DYNASTY WRITERS!!!!
Love the reboot and lookin’ forward to season 3!

Would’ve loved that as well!

They should bring back the original Crystal and Nicolette Sheridan or put Heather Locklear in.

All My Children

Jacob Young Shares Production Pic of Cast of His New Film Featuring Joan Collins and Nadia Bjorlin

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Last month, during a livestream conversation on the Michael Fairman Channel, while promoting Jason Cook’s film, Four for Fun, and featuring soap notables Jacob Young (ex-AJ, AMC, ex-Lucky, GH, ex-Rick, B&B) and Brytni Sarpy (Y&R), Young revealed some intel on his upcoming movie project.

Jacob shared that he was set to direct, produce and star in a Agatha Christie-like murder mystery feature film, Murder Between Friends shooting in Prague.

The actor/director expressed, “I’m flying at the end of the March to Prague to direct, produce and star in a film with Joan Collins (ex-Dynasty). Nadia Bjorlin (ex-Chloe, Days of our Lives) is in it, and Toby Alexander Smith from Eastenders (ex-Gray Atkins). Plus, a couple of my Broadway friends and a very well known Czech actress (Hana Vagnerova). It’s very ‘Knives Out’ without having a hundred million dollars to shoot it, but still will be a lovely film nonetheless.”

Photos: JPI

Young is currently shooting the film’s principal photography abroad through April 17th.

Over the weekend, Jacob took to his Instagram to share a photo with the cast of the film where pictured is former Dynasty star, Joan Collins (ex-Alexis) and former Days of our Lives star, Nadia Bjorlin (ex-Chloe). In addition, former All My Children star, Trent Garrett (ex-Asher) is seen in director-mode kneeling.

Trent and Jacob are both co-directors of Murder Between Friends Joan Collins shared the pic on her Instagram citing, “This was the #secret I posted about several weeks ago!”

So, looking forward to seeing Jacob’s film when it is released with Joan, Nadia, and company? Let us know in the comment section.

 

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A post shared by Jacob Young (@jacob_w_young)

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Dynasty

Elizabeth Gillies First Post-‘Dynasty’ Role Revealed; GH Alum Bryan Craig Also In Cast

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Now that the CW’s Dynasty has come to its conclusion after five seasons, many have wondered what series star Elizabeth Gillies (ex-Fallon) will be seen in next.  Part of the answer was revealed today in casting news via Deadline.

Gillies will star and is the co-executive producer of a new Tubi film called Spread.  In it, Liz will take on the role of  ambitious and aspiring journalist, who lands a temp job at an adult magazine run by an aging industry king played by Harvey Keitel.  The character must reconcile her idealism as she strives to help the company succeed.

Spread is written by Buffy Charlet, who is another of the films Co-EP’s, and is inspired by Charlet’s real-life experience as a temp at Hustler magazine who rose in the ranks to become an editor.

The film also stars two-time Daytime Emmy winner Bryan Craig (ex-General Hospital, Good Trouble).

Look for Spread to drop on Tubi in 2023.

So, intrigued to see Liz and Bryan in Tubi’s new film, ‘Spread’? Comment below.

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Dynasty

DYNASTY Series Finale: A ‘False Face’ Revealed!

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After five seasons, the final episode of CW’s Dynasty came to its conclusion on Friday night, but not before it delivered another soapy trope – a use of a prosthetic mask (sound familiar Days of our Lives fans?) to hide someone’s true identify.

Here’s what went down: After majordomo Graham (Dan Amboyer) had kidnapped Adam (Sam Underwood), in a shocker, Graham peels off his face! Yup, it was a prosthetic mask and reveals himself to be none other than Steven Carrington (James Mackay)!

After being kept away by Adam for years (he had hidden Steven in a sanitarium and then the place burned down), Steven finally figured out it was Adam who was pulling the strings of his disappearance. Next, came an all-out brawl; where instead of an opportunity to inject Adam with a syringe of some sort of concoction as payback, he almost killed his scheming half-brother. However, Steven didn’t want be a murderer, so he let Adam live to see another day, but told Adam to exile himself from the Carringtons and never return.

With that, and now masked again, Graham meets up with Sam (Rafael de La Fuente) at the hotel bar, where he eventually pulls off his mask to reveal himself as Steven. Kudos to de La Fuente in those scenes who gave us all the feels as Sam is reunited with the man he loves.

Photo: CW

Still in another heart-tugger, Fallon (Elizabeth Gillies) comes upon a man sitting at the piano at the Carringtons, and when he turns around, she sees its her brother, Steven.  The two, in typical CW Dynasty-style, break into song.  It was touchingly played by series star, Gillies along with Mackay. Elsewhere, Alexis and Blake (Grant Show) are trouncing through a horrific storm trying to find Dex. Ultimately, Alexis (Elaine Hendrix) and Dex (Pej Vahdat) reunite, and when a softened Blake returns home, he and Crystal (Daniella Alonso) vow to stay together and cement it with a kiss.

In addition, Amanda (Eliza Bennett) gets a job offer to return to London from her ex-lover, which puts her relationship with Kirby (Maddison Brown) in question.  Culhane (Robert Christopher Riley) told Sam that he’ll be moving to LA and selling his part of the hotel business they have together before he marries Nina.  Sam doesn’t take that news well and tries to ensure no one else will take Culhane’s half of their business partnership, because he likes working with him so much.  Meanwhile, the surrogate, Stacey Moore (Samantha Massell), delivers Fallon and Liam’s (Adam Huber) baby and they welcome their little girl to the dysfunction of the Carrington clan.

Photo:

We are onto the final moments via a six-month time jump and the trajectory of the Carringtons and their extended family become known. Sam presides over Culhane’s wedding to Nina (Felisha Terrell), Liam has written children’s books after his baby girl, while Jeff (Sam Adegoke) is setting up ColbyCo’s new headquarters in Africa, specifically, Nigeria. Fallon had decided to rebrand her company Carrington United, much to the delight of her father.  Dominique (Michael Michele) and Alexis are both opening stores right across from each other on Bleecker Street in Manhattan, and it looks as if they will continue their ongoing catfights in the Big Apple. Kirby decides to move to London to be with Amanda.

Courtesy/CW

And … in the ‘payback is a bitch’ column, we see Adam with an English accent working as a veterinarian … taking care of cats! The final moment of the series features a snapshot of the Carringtons during a family photo gathering.

So, what did you think of the season finale of ‘Dynasty’? Let us know in the comment section below. But, first watch a BTS moment with James Mackay and Liz Gillies singing a familiar tune on her Instagram, posted after last night’s finale aired.

 

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A post shared by Elizabeth Gillies (@lizgillz)

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