In the bustling sidewalks of New York City, where autumn leaves swirl like forgotten love letters, a whisper from the late ’90s has exploded into full-blown millennial mania: Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson, the eternal Joey and Pacey of Dawson’s Creek, are back on screen together—rekindling that electric spark in a trilogy of romantic dramedies called Happy Hours. Announced in July 2025, the project marks Holmes’ boldest directorial swing yet, with her writing, helming, and starring alongside her former flame and co-star. Filming kicked off amid summer heatwaves, and paparazzi snaps of their on-set chemistry—high-fives, hugs, and heart-eyed glances—have sent fans into a nostalgic frenzy. But is this just professional bliss, or the dawn of a real-life romance reboot? As the duo pushes a baby stroller through Central Park in one scene (pure fiction, fans hope?), Happy Hours promises to heal old wounds and ignite new ones, proving that some loves, like fine wine or WB reruns, only get better with time.

For those who came of age with dial-up internet and butterfly clips, Dawson’s Creek wasn’t just a show—it was a cultural catechism. From 1998 to 2003, the Kevin Williamson-penned teen saga dissected the messy hearts of Capeside’s quartet: optimistic dreamer Dawson (James Van Der Beek), brooding artist Jen (Michelle Williams), tomboy Joey Potter (Holmes), and the wise-cracking underdog Pacey Witter (Jackson). Joey and Pacey’s will-they-won’t-they (spoiler: they did, in that iconic Season 3 finale boat kiss) became the gold standard for slow-burn romance, outshining even Joey’s endgame with Dawson. Off-screen, Holmes and Jackson’s 1998-1999 fling mirrored their characters’ heat, but they parted amicably, channeling that goodwill into six seasons of on-set camaraderie. Fast-forward 22 years: Holmes, 46, post-divorce from Tom Cruise and fresh off directing indies like Rare Objects (2023), reaches out to Jackson, 47, who’s riding high from Hulu’s Doctor Odyssey and the Karate Kid: Legends reboot. “I am so very grateful to be working again with so many of my wonderful friends on this film HAPPY HOURS,” Holmes captioned an Instagram post on July 21, 2025, igniting 1.2 million likes and a torrent of heart emojis.

Happy Hours isn’t a Creek reboot—thank the stars—but a fresh canvas for Holmes’ multifaceted vision. The trilogy follows two ex-lovers (Holmes and Jackson) who serendipitously reconnect in adulthood, navigating career chaos, family tugs, and the stubborn pull of “what if.” Per the synopsis, it’s “a character-driven dramedy that explores the emotional journey of young loves who reconnect… with the connective thread of shared joys, loss, and hope.” Think When Harry Met Sally meets Fleabag‘s emotional gut-punches: witty banter over bar tabs (happy hours, get it?), stolen kisses amid boardroom battles, and teary confessions under rainy NYC skies. Holmes’ script draws from her directorial toolkit—intimate, female-led stories laced with quiet resilience—while Jackson’s Pacey-esque charm grounds the rom-com tropes in lived-in longing. “It’s a testament to friendship,” Holmes told People, emphasizing the “easy trust” with Jackson after decades apart. Filming back-to-back for efficiency, the production wrapped principal photography in late September 2025, eyeing a 2026 festival debut (Sundance whispers abound) before a wide release via an indie distributor like A24 or Searchlight.

The ensemble adds layers of star power without overshadowing the leads. Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds) brings wry wit as Holmes’ no-nonsense bestie; Constance Wu (Crazy Rich Asians) shines as Jackson’s ambitious colleague-turned-rival; Joe Tippett (The Righteous Gemstones) and John McGinty (The Knick) round out the friend group with bro-energy hijinks. Newcomers Donald Webber Jr. (Euphoria) and Nathan Darrow (Billions) flesh out the corporate underbelly, while young actors Johnna Dias-Watson and Jack Martin portray flashback versions of the stars, capturing that Creek-era innocence. Directed with Holmes’ signature handheld intimacy—think Alone Together‘s raw close-ups—the films blend sun-dappled park romps with stark office fluorescents, scored to an indie-folk playlist that nods to Creek‘s angsty ’90s alt-rock roots.

But the real plot twist? The off-screen sizzle that’s got tabloids typing faster than a TMZ intern. On July 21, 2025, the duo was snapped in Greenwich Village: Holmes in a breezy pink plaid shirt and wide-leg slacks, Jackson in a faded tee and cargos, sharing a script-reading laugh that screamed “unfinished business.” By July 25, they were pushing a prop stroller in Central Park, Holmes leaping into Jackson’s arms for a playful embrace—pure rom-com gold, or something more? Sources tell Us Weekly the “spark is obvious and very natural,” with Jackson’s post-divorce glow (from Jodie Turner-Smith in 2023) meeting Holmes’ single-mom serenity. At a September 22 Dawson’s Creek reunion fundraiser for F Cancer—where the cast performed a live table read—Holmes and Jackson held hands onstage, drawing cheers and Michelle Williams’ knowing grin. “Clearly all the feelings are buzzing again,” an insider dished to Yahoo, noting their “blissfully happy reunion” but professional restraint: no public PDA until wrap. Jackson, ever the discreet heartthrob, posted a cryptic “Old flames, new pages” on Instagram, while Busy Philipps (Creek‘s Audrey) commented on Holmes’ announcement: “We are seated.”

Social media? A powder keg of ‘shipper ecstasy. X (formerly Twitter) lit up with #JoeyAndPacey trending for 72 hours post-announcement, amassing 500K mentions: “Millennials are UNWELL—Katie and Josh as exes who reconnect? It’s meta AF 😍,” tweeted @teresalisbcns, echoing a sentiment shared by 1K replies. Viral clips from the reunion—Holmes leaning on Jackson during a Q&A—spawned edits set to “I’ll Be” by Edwin McCain, racking 2M views. Reddit’s r/DawsonsCreek exploded with 10K-upvote threads: “This heals my inner 13-year-old. Team Pacey forever!” one user gushed, while another quipped, “If they don’t end up together IRL, Hollywood owes us a sequel.” Even skeptics melted: “Thought I was over this, but Joey’s face scrunch + Pacey’s smirk? Instant time machine,” per a CBC op-ed that captured the generational catharsis.

Critics are already buzzing pre-release. Variety hails Happy Hours as “a savvy evolution of Holmes’ voice—tender yet unflinching on love’s long game,” predicting Oscar-qualifying turns for the leads. Jackson’s dramatic chops, honed in The Affair, mesh seamlessly with rom-com levity, while Holmes’ multi-hyphenate prowess cements her as a force beyond Scientology headlines. For fans, it’s validation: the underdog romance wins again. As one X post nailed it, “Dawson’s Creek taught us love’s not a straight line—it’s a creek, winding back when you least expect.”

In a Hollywood starved for authentic sparks, Happy Hours arrives like a long-awaited finale. Whether Holmes and Jackson’s reunion stays scripted or spills into reality, one thing’s clear: Joey and Pacey are forever, and this trilogy? It’s the love letter we didn’t know we needed. Mark your calendars for 2026—because when old flames flicker, the fire feels new.