Ana Brenda Contreras Joining 'Dynasty' as the "Real" Cristal

In the first season finale of Dynasty on The CW in May, Cristal's fate was left up in the air with the character shot and left inside a burning building. It looks like that mystery has been solved, at least in terms of Nathalie Kelley's run as the character.

After playing the role of Cristal Flores — the new wife of Blake Carrington — in the first season, Kelley announced in June that she wouldn't be returning to the show.

The network has now confirmed that telenovela star Ana Brenda Contreras will take over the role in the drama's upcoming second season. Furthermore, Contreras is said to be playing the "real" Cristal, though it's unclear what that means exactly.

Asked for the reason for the switch, CW president Mark Pedowitz said, "it's a wild soap, these are things you do on a soap."

Dynasty returns to The CW for season 2 on Friday, Oct. 12 at 8 p.m. ET.

RELATED:
- We Love Soaps Interview: Ana Brenda Contreras On Her Career, The Telenovela Process & More!