Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson, former co-stars on the popular teen drama Dawson’s Creek, have reunited professionally, sparking fan speculation about their relationship. The actors are working together again on Holmes’s upcoming film Happy Hours, which she will direct and star in alongside Jackson. Although they have been seen filming in New York City, sources confirm they remain just friends.
The two share a deep history dating back to the 1990s when they met while filming Dawson’s Creek. The show, which aired from 1998 to 2003, featured their characters, Joey Potter (Holmes) and Pacey Witter (Jackson), in a memorable on-again, off-again relationship that culminated in marriage by the series finale.
Their offscreen relationship began around the same time. In a 1998 interview, Holmes, then 19, hinted at a real-life romance with Jackson. She described it as her “first love” and a “wonderful, amazing experience” she would always treasure. Holmes also expressed admiration for Jackson, calling him a close friend and professional mentor.
Over the years, their friendship has endured despite their separate lives and careers. In September 2012, Jackson spoke about a casual phone call from Holmes during an appearance on the Canadian talk show George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight. He described the conversation as warm and friendly, sharing updates about their lives. At that time, Jackson was in a relationship with actress Diane Kruger.
Fast forward to April 2023, Jackson reflected on their youthful romance in an interview with The Times. He called it a “full-on stars-moon-sky romance” and revealed that the Dawson’s Creek cast maintains a WhatsApp group chat. The chat becomes lively occasionally, especially during anniversaries, when memories of their shared experience come flooding back.
In June 2024, Holmes was asked about the group chat and admitted she was not very active on WhatsApp and was unaware of the chat itself. Still, she confirmed she keeps in touch with the cast “every now and then” and said the bond between them remains strong despite busy lives and time apart.
By April 2025, Jackson appeared on Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s podcast Dinner’s on Me, where he confirmed that he and Holmes are still “very close.” While they do not speak frequently, he emphasized that their connection is always there whenever they do talk.
In July 2025, Holmes officially announced the professional reunion with Jackson for her new film Happy Hours. She described working with him again as a “testament to friendship” and shared excitement about the project, which she called “a love story that includes so many people I adore.”
While fans hope this collaboration might lead to a romantic reunion, sources close to the pair have stated that rekindling their past relationship is unlikely. Instead, Holmes and Jackson seem focused on nurturing their longstanding friendship as they create new work together.
