More than two decades after Dawson’s Creek captured the hearts of a generation, the iconic duo of Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson has reunited, sending fans into a nostalgic frenzy. Their new project, a romantic film trilogy titled Happy Hours, is already generating buzz, but it’s not just the promise of cinematic romance that has tongues wagging. Late-night rehearsals, cozy coffee breaks, and an undeniable chemistry that seems to transcend the script have sparked whispers: could this on-set reunion be reigniting a real-life love story that began in the late ’90s? As the streets of New York City become their stage, fans are left wondering if art is about to mirror life in the most romantic way possible.
For those who grew up watching Dawson’s Creek, the names Joey Potter and Pacey Witter are synonymous with first love, heartbreak, and the kind of chemistry that defined a generation’s idea of romance. Holmes, who played the quick-witted and soulful Joey, and Jackson, who brought the charmingly roguish Pacey to life, were at the heart of the show’s emotional rollercoaster. Their on-screen romance, which blossomed in Season 3 and culminated in the series finale, left an indelible mark on fans. But what many may not know—or may have forgotten—is that Holmes and Jackson’s connection wasn’t just for the cameras. During the show’s early days, from 1998 to 1999, the two briefly dated, forging a bond that Holmes once described as her “first love,” a feeling so profound that she would “treasure it always.”
Now, over 20 years later, Holmes and Jackson are back together, not in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts, but on the bustling sidewalks of New York City, filming Happy Hours. This trilogy, written and directed by Holmes herself, promises to be a character-driven dramedy about two people navigating love, careers, and family responsibilities against life’s inevitable challenges. The story’s premise alone—a tale of young loves reconnecting as adults—feels like a nod to their own shared history, and fans are eating it up. Holmes, now 46, and Jackson, 47, were spotted on set in July 2025, their easy smiles and effortless rapport reigniting memories of Joey and Pacey’s stolen glances and heartfelt confessions.
The set of Happy Hours has become a stage for nostalgia and speculation. Photos from the shoot show Holmes, dressed in a soft pink flannel and relaxed trousers, laughing alongside Jackson, who sports a casual green jacket and jeans. Their interactions are warm, familiar, and charged with a spark that feels like more than just professional courtesy. During breaks, they’ve been seen sharing coffee, lost in conversation, their body language suggesting a comfort that only comes from years of knowing someone deeply. For fans, these moments are like pages from a romance novel, each one fueling hopes that the pair’s real-life connection might be rekindling.
Holmes has been vocal about her gratitude for this reunion, calling it a “testament to friendship” in a heartfelt social media post. She described Happy Hours as a love story that includes “so many people I adore,” hinting at the deep personal significance of the project. The cast, which includes talents like Mary-Louise Parker and Constance Wu, adds to the anticipation, but it’s Holmes and Jackson’s reunion that steals the spotlight. For Holmes, this trilogy marks her latest venture into directing, following her work on Alone Together (2022) and Rare Objects (2023). Her creative control over the project suggests that Happy Hours is a deeply personal endeavor, perhaps even a reflection of her own experiences with love, loss, and reconnection.
Jackson, too, has spoken about the enduring bond he shares with his Dawson’s Creek co-stars, including Holmes. In a recent podcast appearance, he described their connection as one forged through “good and bad, happy and f*ck you and don’t talk to me and I love you.” It’s a raw, honest depiction of a friendship that has weathered time and distance, and it’s clear that working together again has brought them closer. Jackson’s life has seen its share of changes since Dawson’s Creek—a marriage to Jodie Turner-Smith, the birth of their daughter Juno, and a subsequent split in 2023. Holmes, meanwhile, has navigated her own high-profile relationships, including her marriage to Tom Cruise and her role as a mother to their daughter, Suri. Yet, despite their separate paths, their reunion feels like a homecoming.
The question on everyone’s lips is whether this professional collaboration could spark something more. Fans of Dawson’s Creek have always been divided into Team Dawson and Team Pacey, with the latter camp celebrating Joey and Pacey’s endgame romance in the series finale. Now, with Holmes and Jackson back in each other’s orbit, social media is abuzz with comments like “Joey and Pacey forever!” and “I’m not emotionally prepared for this.” The idea of their on-screen chemistry spilling into real life is almost too perfect, a Y2K fantasy come to life. While there’s no concrete evidence of a romantic reunion, the speculation is fueled by their history and the palpable connection they share on set.
Happy Hours itself promises to be a cinematic treat, evoking comparisons to Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy, which explored love’s evolution through intimate, real-time storytelling. Holmes’s vision for the films—a blend of humor, heart, and raw emotion—seems tailor-made for her and Jackson’s talents. Their ability to convey vulnerability and passion made them stars in the ’90s, and early reports suggest that their chemistry is as electric as ever. The trilogy’s focus on love’s challenges and triumphs feels like a natural extension of their Dawson’s Creek legacy, offering fans a chance to see Joey and Pacey, or at least their spiritual successors, navigate adulthood.
For now, Holmes and Jackson remain focused on their craft, pouring their energy into Happy Hours. The first film is already in production, with plans for the second and third installments to follow. As they film under New York’s bright lights, they’re not just creating a movie—they’re rekindling a connection that has spanned decades. Whether their story remains one of friendship or blossoms into something more, one thing is certain: the world is watching, hearts racing, hoping for a love story that feels as real as it does on screen.
As the cameras roll and the lanterns of their past flicker in memory, Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson are reminding us why we fell in love with them in the first place. Will Happy Hours be the backdrop for a new chapter in their story, or is this simply a beautiful moment of nostalgia? Only time will tell, but for now, fans are content to dream, their hearts alight with the possibility of a love story that never truly ended.
