Katie Holmes Reunites With Dawson’s Creek Costar Joshua Jackson

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Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson have found each other outside of Capeside.

On July 21, two actors who previously starred on “Dawson’s Creek” came together again in New York City, during filming for an as-yet-unnamed upcoming production, with the first actor also serving as its director.

For their outing, Holmes (the mother of 19-year-old Suri, previously with Tom Cruise) wore a salmon-colored, plaid flannel over a gray tank top and navy pants. In the filming scene on a New York City sidewalk, she appeared cheerful while standing next to Jackson, who was dressed in a sage green jacket and blue jeans.

The upcoming project signifies the first on-screen collaboration for the duo since “Dawson’s Creek” concluded in 2003, a series that featured James Van Der Beek, Michelle Williams, and Busy Philipps. Interestingly, despite not having acted together much since then, Jackson has highlighted the strong connection he maintains with Holmes.

He mentioned on Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s “Dinner’s on Me” podcast in April that he and Katie are extremely close. Similarly, Busy and Michelle share a very strong bond.

He additionally shared the frequency of their contact with the cast from the WB series, mentioning that it’s not a regular daily conversation. At times, it may even stretch beyond weekly or monthly, or even half-yearly catch-ups, but when they meet, there’s always that mutual understanding, akin to saying, “We know what each other is thinking.

Beyond his personal bond with daughter Juno, who is 5 and shares the same mother with ex Jodie Turner-Smith, Jackson also keeps close ties with his previous co-stars. He discussed how they all rallied together to offer support for Van Der Beek after he publicly shared his colorectal cancer diagnosis in November.

James is experiencing an incredibly difficult situation at the moment,” Jackson explained further. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t much help in the relationship, but luckily, the girls stepped up and said, ‘We should find a way to aid James.’

Is it looking likely that both the female and male cast members are planning a larger reunion of “Dawson’s Creek” in the future, given that there appears to be an active attempt towards organizing such an event?

Philipps shared with US Weekly in March that they’re working hard to find a solution, but there are a few individuals who have unmovable commitments regarding work. It’s like trying to coordinate a game of chess, making everyone’s schedules fit together. I remain optimistic that we will eventually succeed.

Instead, it’s worth noting that the potential reunion might take a different shape than a reboot, as Holmes expressed to Screen Rant in 2022 when discussing this possibility. He commented, “We pondered, ‘Would we prefer them not at their current age?’ After careful consideration, we collectively decided we don’t actually.

As we all ponder whether a revival of “Dawson’s Creek” will occur, let’s delve into some fascinating backstage facts about this beloved CW series instead.

While Fox was first to pick up Dawson’s Creek, it subsequently dumped the teen drama. 

At the 2015 ATX TV Festival, series creator Kevin Williamson expressed that he had been informed they were already finding it difficult with the “Party of Five” series, and another one wasn’t necessary for them.

But that paved the way for The WB to pick it up two years later.

Initially, the producers of Dawson’s Creek aimed to use Alanis Morissette’s “Hand in My Pocket” as their theme song, but eventually, Paula Cole’s “I Don’t Want to Wait” became iconically associated with the show instead.

Alas, they couldn’t land the rights, what a jagged little pill.

Dawson. Pacey. Joey. Not names you hear every day. So how did Williamson come up with them? 

In 2018, he shared with The Hollywood Reporter that Dawson originated from a genuine location known as Dawson’s Creek, where we used to socialize and celebrate as children. As for Pacey, he claimed he hailed from an acquaintance-of-an-acquaintance named Pacey, a name he had never encountered before and found intriguingly unique.

For the main character, Williamson desired the name Josephine to be feminine yet adaptable, allowing it to be shortened casually as Joey, a more tomboyish nickname.

Remember Dawson’s infamous “walk the dog” line in the pilot?

Williamson used a roundabout term instead, as the network prohibited using the word “self-stimulation” in 1998.

As a devoted fan looking back, I can’t help but imagine how different things might have been if Blair had landed the role instead of Katie Holmes. I was almost on the verge of witnessing Blair as America’s sweetheart-next-door!

As a die-hard fan, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement when Joss Whedon shared that Joe was intended to be a tomboy and he nearly cast Selma Blair for the role. According to him, she nailed the part, delivering it with raw toughness and plenty of heart. (THR)

Yet, upon viewing footage featuring Holmes’ distinctive “two large eyes,” Williamson became certain that they had indeed found their Joey.

Williamson liked Joshua Jackson so much, he didn’t care what role the Mighty Ducks alum played.

As a seasoned lifestyle expert, let me share my personal take on this: “I found myself deeply drawn to Joshua Jackson due to his versatility in playing any role, be it Dawson or Pacey. However, there was an incomplete feeling, and then the network voiced their doubts about seeing him as Dawson, which I now understand was justified. So, I decided, ‘Alright, he’s Pacey,’ because I knew I wanted him on the show regardless of the role.

In 1999, an 18-year-old named Charlie Hunnam tried out for a WB drama. Although he didn’t get the role, he encountered Katherine Towne during his audition.

In a Las Vegas ceremony three weeks hence, they got married, only to separate in 2002, a period Hunnam described as “three agonizing, costly years” when he spoke with the Associated Press in 2017.

Dawson’s Creek became so popular that American Eagle inked a deal in 2000 to outfit the actors.

In the third season, the characters predominantly donned apparel from the brand AE, while also featuring in marketing campaigns and promotional materials for this clothing line. This boosted the company’s earnings significantly, pushing their total revenue over $105 million by the year 2001.

When James Van Der Beek was first cast, the studio wanted him to change his hair.

He reminisced to The Daily Beast in 2012 about discovering an advertisement for the movie “The Devil’s Own,” starring Brad Pitt. When they asked, “What about Brad Pitt’s hairstyle?”, that’s how he ended up with his season one haircut.

In the early stages of the series, Holmes had a relationship with Jackson, prior to when Pacey and Joey began developing feelings for one another despite initially disliking each other.

In an interview with Rolling Stone in 1998, Holmes stated, “I’d like to share that I encountered someone the previous year.” Without explicitly confirming it, it was evidently Jackson whom he met. He went on to describe this encounter as his first love experience, something extraordinary and beyond words, which he would cherish forever. Remarkably, they have since become close friends. It’s an unusual connection, somewhat reminiscent of Dawson and Joey from a popular TV show.

As a lifestyle expert, I can confidently say that after years of working alongside this individual, I have grown to admire and value his expertise immensely. Not only has he been instrumental in guiding me through various aspects of my life, but his professional acumen is second to none. He’s not just a mentor or colleague, he’s become a trusted friend as well.

Initially, when Kerr Smith agreed to appear on the show in the role of Joey’s new love interest, he didn’t anticipate that his character would later reveal his sexual orientation and become a part of the very first televised same-sex kiss.

Williamson stated at the ATX TV Festival, “I had always hoped Jack would reveal his true self, but I never shared this with Smith. Instead, I wanted the audience to connect with him first. Later, when Joey faced the challenge of dealing with Jack’s revelation, it was intended to push her back towards Dawson.

To put it another way, Williamson stated that each character on the series possesses characteristics he himself has, with Jack being one of them.

He shared with Entertainment Weekly in 2018 that every character in the show carries a piece of him, as he had gone through the process of coming out as gay in his twenties. He felt it was important for one of the characters to embody this experience and reflect that aspect of himself on the show.

The revealing episode featuring Jack, co-written by Williamson and executive producer Greg Berlanti, was influenced by real-life incidents.

In an interview with EW, Berlanti said, “A friend of mine unintentionally revealed a story I’d shared with him. This happened because he penned a love poem that was evidently about another man to everyone else.

The close friendship between Michelle Williams and Busy Philipps, which initially flourished during their time together on “Dawson’s Creek,” remains robust up until now.

Williams expressed to People in 2016, during a screening of Manchester by the Sea, that his dear friend was the object of his deep affection. He stated, “She demonstrates that the one you deeply love doesn’t have to be a man! She is the love of my life right there.

Philipps is also godmother to Williams’ daughter Matilda Ledger, who was born in 2005.

The moment when Dawson lost his virginity on the show was so significant that Van Der Beek brought a unique present on the day they filmed the scene.

He shared with The Daily Beast that he had provided champagne for the team, but also mentioned (in a private conversation): “Dawson experienced his first sexual encounter.

In my expertise as a lifestyle guide, let me share an interesting fact: Prior to gracing the screen on “One Tree Hill,” Chad Michael Murray made an appearance on “Dawson’s Creek.” His character, Charlie, was more than just a fleeting presence; he was a love interest for both Jen and Joey.

Although Charlie was sociable, Murray appeared to struggle with making friends during his initial time in North Carolina (where One Tree Hill was later shot).

In a Paley panel held in 2009, Phillips referred to him as a “jerk”, and later clarified that he was not overly concerned about alienating CMM.

In retrospect, Van Der Beek commented, “He’s made significant progress.” Later, Philipps posted on Twitter, “I might have been too critical of Chad during the Dawson’s Creek panel… but nope.

Meanwhile, Murray has remained quiet on the matter, acknowledging in 2015 that he gained valuable insights from the encounter.

In 2015, he shared with Cosmopolitan.com that he benefited greatly from working alongside individuals who had been part of Dawson’s cast for several years before him. People like Michelle, James, Katie, and Josh were instrumental in my learning journey because they had already spent five to six years, or even more, on set. If their schedules permitted, they took the time to teach me the basics, such as lighting and various technical aspects of our craft. I was clueless about these topics initially, but I’m truly thankful for that enriching experience.

A variety of well-known actors, some already established in their careers and others on their way to stardom, have made appearances on Dawson’s Creek throughout its run. These include Seth Rogen, Jane Lynch, Julie Bowen, Scott Foley, Jensen Ackles, Hilarie Burton, Rachel Leigh Cook, Ali Larter, and Oliver Hudson.

The brief series titled “Young Americans” focused on Will Krudski, a friend of Pacey, along with his fellow students at Rawley Academy, where they all resided. (In this case, Rodney Scott portrayed Will Krudski.)

Also starring Ian Somerhalder and Kate Bosworth, it was canceled after just one season.

In the final episode of the series in 2003, the central romantic conflict of the show, involving three characters, was resolved as Joey picked Pacey.

However, things didn’t unfold as initially planned by Williamson, as he had originally conceived of Dawson winning the girl’s heart. Yet, midway through penning the series finale, Williamson discerned that a joyful conclusion for their relationship wasn’t “in line with what the show was intended to portray.

He shared during the ATX TV Festival that his aim was to create a unique take on teenage dramas, one that would be unexpected, authentic, and genuine while exploring the concept of soul mates. To achieve this, he structured the story in a particular way. As the series concluded, each character found what they yearned for, leading to a sense of completion and happiness within their newly formed family.

Just before the final decision, he suddenly reversed his choice, an event that would become a notable moment in television lore. However, Williamson acknowledged that his mother, a player on Team Dawson, was less than pleased with the turn of events.

In the final episode that leaped forward by five years, the team faced the heart-wrenching reality of losing Jen.

In Williamson’s explanation, he described how the death of a character served as the ultimate rite of passage for the characters in Dawson’s Creek, symbolizing their transition into adulthood. The show was a coming-of-age story, and this ending was consistent with that theme. He stated that they chose to kill off Jen because he wanted the characters to confront the reality of death, particularly the loss of one of their own, as a final life lesson.

Some of the executive producers who get their start on Dawson’s? 

These talented individuals, including Julie Plec (creator of The Vampire Diaries and The Originals), Marc Guggenheim aka Berlanti (Everwood, Arrow, The Flash, Riverdale…the list is endless, not to mention his movies), Rob Thomas (Veronica Mars and iZombie), Jenny Bicks (Sex and the City), Anna Fricke (Being Human), Dana Baratta (Jessica Jones) and many others, have graced us with their exceptional storytelling abilities.

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2025-07-21 23:50