Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson are bringing serious nostalgic energy back to New York City. The former “Dawson’s Creek” co-stars were photographed getting close, sharing hugs and staying warm between takes on the set of their upcoming trilogy “Happy Hours,” and the images immediately sent longtime fans into a nostalgic spiral online.
New photos from the set circulated across social platforms, especially on Reddit, where users couldn’t help reacting to the duo’s undeniable chemistry. One user wrote, “It just tickles the heart of my inner teenager seeing Joey and Pacey together.” Another joked, “I love platonically holding my co-workers face and gazing into each other’s eyes between takes,” while someone else declared, “Joey and Pacey forever!!” A fourth added, “Oh come on these two are in love.”
Holmes first confirmed the project in July, sharing a photo of herself and Jackson on Instagram and calling their reunion “a testament to friendship.” She wrote, “I am so very grateful to be working again with so many of my wonderful friends on this film HAPPY HOURS. And working with Josh after so many years is a testament to friendship.”
Filming Near Taylor Swift’s Cornelia Street Adds Another Layer of Buzz
Holmes and Jackson generated even more attention when they filmed a flirty scene on December 3 in New York City’s Greenwich Village. According to Us Weekly, the moment unfolded just steps away from Taylor Swift’s former Cornelia Street apartment — the same location that inspired her song “Cornelia Street.”
Jackson was photographed standing outside the townhouse in a casual long-sleeve shirt and messenger bag, while Holmes filmed a scene nearby in a button-down shirt with her hair in loose waves. The placement was subtle, but fans immediately connected the dots once the photos hit social media. The Swift nod mixed with the nostalgia of Holmes and Jackson filming together created one of the most talked-about set sightings of the week.
The film itself has already become a high-interest project. “Happy Hours” follows two people reconnecting later in life while trying to balance careers, family pressures and unresolved emotions, per Deadline. The trilogy also stars Mary-Louise Parker, Constance Wu, Joe Tippett and others, with younger versions of Holmes and Jackson’s characters played by Johnna Dias-Watson and Jack Martin.
A Reunion Nearly 27 Years in the Making
Holmes and Jackson’s chemistry comes with nearly three decades of history. They first met in 1998 while filming “Dawson’s Creek,” where their characters Joey Potter and Pacey Witter famously transitioned from friends to romantic partners. Their on-screen arc mirrored a real-life romance during season 1 that Holmes later described as her “first love.”
According to Elle, the two have remained close ever since, even as their careers and personal lives moved in different directions. Jackson shared on the “Dinner’s on Me” podcast that while they don’t speak constantly, their connection picks up naturally whenever they reunite.
Fans have embraced this new chapter as Holmes directs and stars alongside Jackson in a story rooted in second chances and emotional reconnection. With each new batch of set photos, the duo continues to remind viewers why their partnership struck such a chord all those years ago.
As Holmes wrote when announcing the project, “Happy Hours is a love story that includes so many people I adore. We can’t wait for everyone to see what we make.”
