Dynasty Shocker: Nicollette Sheridan Out as Alexis — Find Out Why
Perhaps it’s time for the Carrington mansion to get fitted for a revolving door?
TVLine has learned exclusively that Nicollette Sheridan is exiting Dynasty after a little over a year of playing Alexis Carrington. In a statement to TVLine, The CW and CBS Television Studios said, “Nicollette Sheridan will be leaving Dynasty in order to focus on some personal family responsibilities. She was a valuable asset to the show and we wish her continued success in the future.”
Sheridan will make her final appearance as Alexis in March and, per an insider, the role may be recast.
UPDATE: Sheridan released her own statement early Tuesday.
“Working on the Dynasty reboot and reprising the iconic role of Alexis has been thoroughly enjoyable, but the chance to spend precious time with my terminally ill mother is more important to me right now. I am profoundly grateful to Mark Pedowitz (The CW) and David Stapf (CBS) for graciously allowing me to return to Los Angeles to be with her, and I wish them and everyone associated with the show nothing but continued success. I am hopeful that my fans will embrace my successor with as much passion as they embraced me.”
Sheridan’s departure represents the third major cast shake-up to rock the reboot in less than a year, following the exits of series regulars Nathalie Kelley (as the original Cristal) and James Mackay (as Steven).
Sheridan joined Dynasty midway through Season 1 as the mother of all troublemakers, succeeding Joan Collins, who popularized the iconic role in the original ABC series. It marked Sheridan’s first major TV gig since her stormy exit from Desperate Housewives in 2009. Prior to her five-season stint on the ABC drama, Sheridan was a series regular on the primetime soap Knots Landing.
Despite modest-at-best ratings, Dynasty has already been renewed for a third season at The CW.
Omg just put it out of its misery
This. I’ve been watching since episode one, but this is becoming ridiculous. Between Sheridan and Mackay leaving and the (sorta) recasting is Cristal, the show is a mess. Time to stop and reboot in ten years.
There is a new Crystal v.3.0 in the opening of 3rd season. they never said what happened to Crystal v.20 who was the best in my opinion…
Whoa. They need to recast because she’s very important to the show.
Heather Locklear?
I love her but I don’t think she’s up for this, or really any gig, health-withe :(
Emma Samms would be a good choice. You know actually make her British.
Why does she have to be British… this is not a retelling of the original series! It’s a reboot… aka different telling of the story.
Emma Samms was not good as the replacement for Fallon on the original. She didn’t have the spunk needed and it also wouldn’t work for Alexis now. I think a perfect casting choice would be the actress who played Amanda in the original series. Catherine Oxenberg is just a couple of years older than Nicolette Sheridan and is blonde. They could do what they did with her character in the original…Amanda (with a British accent) was fighting with Sammy Jo and they fell in the pool and the next season when they got out she had no British accent anymore because it was a different actress. She could have a British accent and they don’t even need to address it.
OMG That was my casting idea as well! Yes!!! It’s absolutely perfect and poetic! Catherine Oxenberg’s original character, Amanda lost her British accent. Now her new character, Alexis, would find her British accent!
Don’t blame Emma Samms. They weren’t looking to clone Pamela Sue Martin. They were intent on (re-)creating that prodigal daughter of Alexis & Blake. Joan Collins wasn’t part of Dynasty when Martin introduced Fallon; fast-forward a few years and in many ways Samms evoked this template more than even PSM. But the Colbys did not write Fallon well at all – she was simplified to a tortured, melodramatic heroine. She was even written that way in Pamela Sue Martin’s final year.
But when The Colbys ended and Samms returned to Dynasty, particularly in Season 9, Fallon got her groove back – and Samms was superb in the role. Though she had matured, at heart Fallon truly was again the spoiled, entitled princess daughter of Alexis & Blake. And no matter what year it was, no matter if you loved Fallon or hated her, Samms was undeniably one of those actresses that just commanded presence. And with that, she made the part her own.
All that aside, while Samms would have made a better Alexis in the spirit of Joan Collins, Catherine Oxenberg would be an outstanding – if not the best – choice to recast Nicolette Sheridan in the role.
Really? I quite liked Emma Samms. She was more emotional than the original Fallon. Elizabeth Gillies does a great job as the new Fallon, and psycho-Adam, but everyone else is average. Catherine Oxenberg (was extremely beautiful) aged poorly and I do not know if she is still married to Casper Van Dien plus she has kids to raise. I think both have been D-Listed in Hollywood and only get small roles. Joan Collins still looks good to make a cameo as Alexi’s mother, they better hurry before she dies too like John Forsythe and Diahann Carroll
Actually, Emma Samms would be a great choice. Years ago she played the villainess GRAYSON LOUDER in MODELS INC. she was fantastic , she was the most interesting character on the show . Give her the role of alexis can you see Blake saying to her ” what’s with the fake British accent ” LOL
Yeah never been much of a Sheridan fan but you can’t really have Dynasty without Alexis.
Is Lisa Rinna behind this?
I was just saying to a friend that Nicolette is probably going to show up on real housewives of bh now, being best friends with lvp.
Wasn’t James let go and didn’t choose to leave?
James and Nathalie, I think, were both let go and neither of them really chose to leave.
Honestly, the reconception of the two roles was bad, and the writing for both wasn’t good at all. I was rather mystified that they chose an actor that didn’t look, act, or see to have anything to do with Stephen Carrington from the original series. As Blake’s son, he should have been a better looking, more powerful, but more conflicted character. The role just never worked for me on any level. I can say the same about the reimaginging of the Colbys, too.
She was certainly fun as Alexis.. They should recast.. After all .. the original recast both Fallon and Steven so there’s history there.. Heather Locklear would be fun and she’s certainly old enough to play it now ..
she’s also in no physical position to take any jobs right now.
What the heck?! She was SO good as Alexis. Between the Crystal recasting, Steven….what is going on with the show?
I can tell you. It SUCKS that was was easy! Couldn’t even get past the first season.
Just have her sister fictional sister Caress Morell take her place.
Andy Swift on Twitter had a great idea for a recast: Teri Hatcher as Alexis. I support this idea!
I’d love to see Marcia Cross!
Marcia Cross was my thought, too.
Loved her as Alexis- why do I suspect behind the scene issues as the real reason for her exit??
Probably because she was fired from Desperate Housewives in a similar fashion.
She does refer to her “terminally ill mother,” so either she really has family issues or her lies are in bad taste.
It’s hard to lie about a terminally ill mother. I mean, the mother is there and other people will know if she’s terminally ill or not. I’m sorry for Sheridan, it’s a difficult thing to live through.
DT I am in total agreement. Something is fishy here and to lose such a great character is a tragedy. I suspect the show is not being run correctly business wise.
Personally I’m okay with this. I never really felt like she clicked with the show. I think it’s best they send Alexis off for a while and then maybe recast her next season.
After the last cliffhanger I’ve already known that Alexis character would be doomed. In the original series Alexis was the responsible for Krystle loosing her baby by a shut gun and she felt off her horse. In this reboot, Alexis tried to kill Cristal but instead kill Cristal’s ex husband and the horse threw her off and drag her. The scene also was a little disturbing
I think we will find out that Blake’s goons actually fired the fatal shot NOT Alexis!
Yep
I think that was gonna be their twist too. I don’t think Alexis actually shot him, I think it was Blake’s goon.
Looking forward to Dominique (Blake’s sister) is written into the series.
Seriously can they give us a behind the scenes look, I imagine it’s as crazy as the show. I loved her but felt she was seriously under used this season so hopefully with a new alexis they will fix that problem.
I follow all of the cast on instagram and they’re close. They have a lot of fun on set. Then even had a Christmas party with secret santas.
I love the actress but she played Alexis too cartoonish. One thing about Joan Collins she played Alexis hardcore, she was ruthless and she could cut you just by looking at you. They need a serious actress who can be cutthroat but with all the revolving doors I feel like just cancel it, I still haven’t warmed up to NuCrystal yet.
They should get Kate Vernon from Battlestar. She’s a dead ringer for Sheridan.
This doesn’t really make much sense. They should be finishing up filming so any short term issues should be cleared up before filming resumes for season 3. Also, she had basically been blacklisted and this was the first big thing she had done in awhile. You would think they would try to maybe give her just a short hiatus.
Madeline Stowe or Jamie Luner would be my top choices!
Elizabeth Hurley would be a great recast
This!
That’s a great idea! I missed her since E! cancelled The Royals.
I think Madeline Stowe would come across as too nice, but I can totally see Hurley doing it.
Interesting recast theories. But I do know who is replacing her. Was there for the reveal. :)
I don’t believe that they found anyone yet
Because she’s unemployable?
Well, there goes the last shred of interest I had in this show.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE RECAST!!!!! Alexis can’t leave the show she has to stay on till the end like Joan did. I am so enjoying watching this show and love how the storylines actually coincide. It’s amazing!
Only reason I still watching Dynasty
is Fallon. I love Liz so much i put up with the rest. She is wonderful.