Pacey & Joey Reunite After 20 Years 😲🎬 — Joshua Jackson and Katie Holmes Join Forces for New Movie ‘Happy Hours’

For fans of Dawson’s Creek, it’s the reunion you didn’t know you needed — or maybe the one you’ve been waiting for since the series wrapped in 2003.

Joshua Jackson and Katie Holmes, who famously portrayed the beloved on-again, off-again couple Pacey Witter and Joey Potter, are reuniting in a brand-new film project titled Happy Hours. And this time, Holmes isn’t just starring — she’s also directing.

Set in present-day New York City, the film marks the first on-screen collaboration between the two actors in over two decades. Though both have had successful individual careers since their WB days — Jackson in Fringe, The Affair, and more recently Fatal Attraction, and Holmes in Batman Begins, First Daughter, and multiple indie films — the undeniable chemistry they once shared on Dawson’s Creek left a lasting impact on pop culture. That chemistry appears to be back in full force if the early set photos are any indication.

Katie Holmes has described Happy Hours as “a love story that includes so many people I adore,” and the reunion with Jackson certainly seems to fit that sentiment.

The film’s plot is still under wraps, but what we do know is that it’s deeply personal to Holmes. Known for her recent ventures into directing and producing, Holmes has been carving out a unique voice in independent cinema. With Happy Hours, she’s returning not only to a familiar co-star but also to themes of nostalgia, connection, and second chances.

Spotted filming in NYC this week, Holmes and Jackson were seen sharing laughs and exchanging warm hugs between takes. It was the kind of candid interaction that instantly sparked social media buzz — fans reposted behind-the-scenes images with captions like “Pacey + Joey FOREVER” and “This is not a drill!”

The excitement wasn’t just about seeing two ‘90s icons back together — it was also fueled by the fact that Holmes and Jackson once dated off-screen in real life during the early seasons of Dawson’s Creek. That real-life history adds a bittersweet, emotionally layered quality to their onscreen reunion.

It’s not unusual for actors with shared history to reunite, but what makes this one especially buzzworthy is how naturally it seems to have come together.

Holmes, now in full creative control of her project, clearly made a deliberate choice in casting Jackson. It’s a move that signals trust, fondness, and maybe even unfinished creative business. There’s an authenticity there that you simply can’t fake — and that audiences instinctively respond to.

Jackson, for his part, has always spoken highly of Holmes in interviews, once calling her “a very important part” of his life. And despite the years and careers that have passed between them, the mutual respect is obvious.

On set, they seem at ease, joking and discussing shots with the ease of old friends who have weathered the same storm of early fame.

Industry insiders suggest Happy Hours could premiere at a major festival next year, and it’s already gaining traction as a “must-watch” thanks to its nostalgic casting and Holmes’ evolving reputation as a director.

After her previous directorial works like All We Had and Alone Together, Holmes seems ready to elevate her vision with a project that marries personal meaning and broader emotional appeal.

Of course, with such a reunion comes inevitable speculation — are sparks flying off-screen as well? The answer is likely no (both have moved on in their personal lives), but the idea of it is irresistible to longtime fans.

It plays right into the current cultural craving for reboots, throwbacks, and reimaginings — except this one is a step ahead. Instead of simply reprising their teen roles, Holmes and Jackson are telling a new story, with the added weight of everything they’ve lived since Dawson’s Creek.

In the end, Happy Hours might not just be about love and nostalgia. It may be a film about healing, reconnection, and the kind of relationships that never quite leave you.

Whether you were Team Pacey or not, one thing is clear — Holmes and Jackson are creating something special again. And in a world that often feels like it’s moving too fast, this return to something familiar — yet evolved — feels like a warm, well-earned pause.

So, grab your old box set of Dawson’s Creek, cue up “I Don’t Want to Wait,” and get ready to fall in love all over again.

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