“Pacey and Joey” are back, well…sort of! Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson were recently spotted walking the streets of New York City, and yes, their style gave major Dawson’s Creek vibes. Holmes in wide-leg slacks and an oversized flannel, Jackson in jeans and an army-green jacket, like 40-something Joey and Pacey, raising hopes for a nostalgic reunion.
But this isn’t an ad for laundry detergent or a reboot of their teen soap days, it’s not a Dawson’s Creek revival. Instead, Deadline revealed that Holmes and Jackson are starring in Happy Hours, a forthcoming trilogy of character‑driven dramedy that Holmes is writing, directing, and acting in, with Jackson as her co-star.
Described as a romantic dramedy, the story follows “two people navigating their relationship within the challenges of careers and family responsibilities and the pursuit of love, despite life’s inevitable obstacles.” At its core are reconnecting adult lovers, laced with joy, loss, and hope which could be echoes of Joey and Pacey’s slow-burn romance without leaning on nostalgia bait.
The ensemble includes familiar names like Mary‑Louise Parker and Constance Wu, plus Joe Tippett, John McGinty, Donald Webber Jr., Nathan Darrow, Johnna Dias‑Watson, and Jack Martin. Michelle Williams, a fellow Creek alum, is rumoured to cameo.
Photos captured July 21, 2025, show Holmes and Jackson on-set in NYC, signalling that principal photography has likely begun, even though Deadline lists production as “this summer.”
Even though this is not Dawson’s Creek, fans can’t help but feel that Joey and Pacey chemistry. Their previous on-screen (and off-screen) relationship as Joey Potter and Pacey Witter, plus a real‑life romance in the late ’90s, laid the groundwork for their connection.
Holmes recently reflected on the partnership via Instagram, calling their reunion “a testament to friendship,” and Jackson confirmed they stay “very close” after all these years, even if they don’t chat daily.
Instead of rebooting Dawson’s Creek, Holmes chose a fresh story exploring the complexities of long-term connections and adult life that will resonate more deeply than a simple reunion. In recent years, Holmes has focused on indie filmmaking, directing titles like Alone Together (2022) and Rare Objects(2023). Happy Hours marks her most ambitious undertaking yet, a trilogy she writes, directs, and stars in. Jackson has built his own impressive résumé post-Creek, with standout roles in series like The Affair and Loudermilk, bringing seasoned gravitas to this project.
While no release date has been announced yet, fans can expect first teasers and trailers in the coming months, with filming underway,. Will we get moments that subtly tip a hat to Joey and Pacey? Probably. Will it be about their characters? probably not, but the echoes of their past chemistry might just make Happy Hours feel like the reunion we didn’t know we wanted.
Source: Deadline
