In the glittering haze of New York City’s summer lights, a blast from the past has Hollywood buzzing like it’s 1998 all over again. Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson, the eternal heartthrobs of Dawson’s Creek, have stepped back into the spotlight together—not just as nostalgic co-stars, but as collaborators on Holmes’ ambitious new project, Happy Hours. Announced in July 2025, this trilogy of feature films marks Holmes’ boldest directorial venture yet, where she writes, directs, and stars alongside her former on-screen flame, Jackson. The premise? A tale of long-lost sweethearts reconnecting after decades apart. Sound familiar? Fans can’t help but draw parallels to their own iconic Dawson’s Creek saga, where Joey Potter (Holmes) and Pacey Witter (Jackson) navigated a whirlwind of teenage angst, stolen kisses, and that unforgettable boat trip finale.

The reunion kicked off with paparazzi frenzy on July 21, 2025, as Holmes and Jackson were spotted strolling the streets of Manhattan, deep in animated conversation. Holmes, 46, looked effortlessly chic in a sundress, her signature bob haircut swaying as she gestured passionately—perhaps pitching a scene or reminiscing about Capeside. Jackson, 47, leaned casually against a railing, his easy grin evoking the charming rogue he once played. “We can’t wait for everyone to see what we make,” Holmes captioned an Instagram post of the duo, tagging Jackson and the production team. The image alone sent millennials into a frenzy, flooding comment sections with heart-eyes emojis and pleas for a Joey-Pacey sequel in real life.

But the real fireworks exploded on September 22, 2025, at New York’s Richard Rodgers Theatre during “The Dawson’s Creek Class Reunion,” a one-night-only charity event organized to benefit F Cancer. The evening featured a live table reading of the show’s pilot episode, a poignant nod to co-creator and star James Van Der Beek’s ongoing battle with Stage III colorectal cancer. Van Der Beek, unable to attend due to a stomach virus, sent a heartfelt video message, his six children joining their mother Kimberly on stage to belt out the theme song “I Don’t Want to Wait.” Stepping in as an overqualified understudy? None other than Lin-Manuel Miranda, who nailed Dawson Leery’s earnest charm to thunderous applause.

The cast assembled like a time machine: Michelle Williams (Jen Lindley), Kerr Smith (Jack McPhee), Meredith Monroe (Andie McPhee), Busy Philipps, and originals like Mary Beth Peil (Grams) and John Wesley Shipp (Mitch Leery). Holmes slouched into Joey’s signature tomboy pose for her entrance, arms crossed and smirk intact, drawing roars from the crowd. Jackson, ever the Pacey, delivered lines with that signature wit. Yet, it was their post-reading bows that stole the show. Eyewitnesses—and viral clips—captured the pair holding hands tightly, leaning into each other for support amid the emotional weight of the night. “It was electric,” one attendee whispered to reporters outside. “Like no time had passed.”

Of course, with great reunion comes great speculation. Holmes and Jackson briefly dated in 1998, right as Dawson’s Creek skyrocketed them to fame. Their off-screen fling fizzled quickly amid the pressures of young stardom, but the on-screen tension—those longing glances across the creek—lingered in fans’ hearts. Fast-forward to 2025: Both are single. Jackson finalized his divorce from Jodie Turner-Smith in 2023, while Holmes has kept her post-Tom Cruise life low-key, focusing on indie films like Rare Objects and motherhood to daughter Suri. Sources close to the set insist it’s all platonic: “They have a special bond and love how excited fans are,” one told entertainment outlets. “It’s a testament to friendship.” Holmes herself gushed in interviews about the joy of working with Jackson, calling it “healing for millennials who’ve grown up with us.”

Yet, in an era where on-set chemistry often blurs into tabloid gold, who could blame the rumor mill? Social media erupted with fan art of Joey and Pacey sailing into the sunset, hashtags like #PaceyWins and #JoeyAndPaceyForever trending worldwide. Reddit threads dissected every hand-hold, while TikTok edits mashed up Happy Hours set photos with Dawson’s Creek clips. Is this just savvy marketing for Holmes’ passion project—a romance trilogy echoing their own history—or the spark of something more? As filming wraps and the reunion’s glow fades, one thing’s clear: After 20 years, Katie and Joshua remind us that some stories never truly end. They just evolve, one heartfelt bow at a time.