It is 2026, and somehow, we are all talking about Capeside again.
If you’ve been following the trades lately, you know the internet nearly imploded when Katie Holmes posted that grainy Instagram shot of her and Joshua Jackson back together. No, they aren't dating—sorry to the "Joey and Pacey" shippers who’ve been waiting twenty years for a real-life romance—but they are co-starring in a movie trilogy called Happy Hours. It’s a massive deal. Honestly, seeing Joshua Jackson now leading a character-driven drama written and directed by Holmes feels like the ultimate "healing" moment for an entire generation of fans.
But the road to this specific moment has been anything but a straight line.
Josh has been through a whirlwind. From high-profile breakups to losing his childhood home in a literal fire, the last year or two has been a masterclass in resilience. If you think he’s just "that guy from the 90s," you’ve been missing the most interesting part of his career.
The Doctor Odyssey Heartbreak and the Karate Kid Pivot
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Doctor Odyssey.
ABC’s high-octane medical drama was supposed to be the next big thing. Ryan Murphy was at the helm, the budget was huge, and the vibes were basically "The Love Boat with scalpels." It premiered in late 2024 to huge numbers, but then things got weird. Despite being ABC’s most-watched drama debut in five years, it was canceled after just one season in the summer of 2025.
Josh was visibly bummed. He told People magazine it was a "beautiful, over-the-top experience" and that he was genuinely sad to see it go. The cancellation wasn't even a traditional "the show failed" situation; the cast's contracts were just allowed to lapse while Disney and 20th Television dealt with internal lawsuits involving the props department.
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It was a mess.
Instead of sulking, Jackson leaned into the big screen. He joined the cast of Karate Kid: Legends, which hit theaters in May 2025. He played Victor, a former boxing champ and pizzeria owner. To get the role right, he actually ate 4,000 calories a day and put on 20 pounds of muscle. That’s commitment. He mentioned at the premiere that it was a "childhood dream come true" to share a screen with Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio.
Rebuilding from the Ashes
Life hasn't been all red carpets and movie sets.
In early 2025, a massive fire in Los Angeles destroyed his home in Topanga. This wasn't just some rental; it was his childhood home that he had bought back years ago. He had planned to raise his daughter, Juno, there.
"Every floorboard was a piece of my story," he told Jimmy Fallon.
The house is gone, but Josh has a surprisingly healthy outlook on it. He’s currently in the process of building a new place from the ground up. He’s talked about how it’s an opportunity to create a space that doesn’t have all of "Daddy’s history" in it, but is instead a clean slate for him and his daughter. It’s a pretty profound way to handle losing everything.
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What’s the Deal with His Love Life?
You can't talk about Joshua Jackson now without mentioning the tabloid frenzy.
After his marriage to Jodie Turner-Smith ended, he was very publicly linked to Lupita Nyong'o. They were the "it" couple of late 2023 and early 2024—vacationing in Mexico, holding hands in Joshua Tree, the whole bit. But by late 2024, it was over. Lupita basically confirmed the split by saying her love for her cat, Yoyo, was "singular" and that she wasn't looking for a relationship.
Since then, Josh has been spotted out with actress Priya Jain and model Nastassja Roberts. He’s clearly moving on, but he seems way more focused on being a dad than being a celebrity boyfriend. He often talks about how becoming a father changed his perspective on his own estranged relationship with his father, who passed away recently. He’s trying to break those old cycles.
The Happy Hours Trilogy: Why It Matters
This brings us back to Happy Hours.
The first film in the trilogy is currently in post-production. It’s a "character-driven dramedy" about two people who were young loves and reconnect as adults. Sound familiar? It’s essentially a meta-commentary on the Holmes/Jackson dynamic.
They started filming in New York City in the summer of 2025. Fans were snapping photos of them on the street, and honestly, the chemistry in those candid shots was undeniable. It’s the first time they’ve worked together in over two decades.
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Why should you care?
Because it represents a shift in how 90s icons are managing their legacies. They aren't just doing a "Dawson's Creek" reboot for a paycheck. They are creating something new, something adult, and something that feels authentically them.
What Most People Get Wrong About Josh
People still try to put him in the "teen heartthrob" box.
If you watch Dr. Death or The Affair, you know he’s way past that. He struggled with imposter syndrome in his 20s because he was making so much money while feeling like a "fraud." He’s spent the last decade proving he belongs in the room. He’s not Pacey Witter anymore; he’s a 47-year-old character actor who can carry a show on his back.
Practical Insights for Fans and Followers
If you want to keep up with what’s next for Joshua Jackson, here is the roadmap:
- Watch the Back Catalog: If you only know him from Dawson’s Creek, go back and watch Fringe. It’s currently seeing a massive resurgence on streaming (specifically for fans of Dark Matter on Apple TV+).
- Keep an Eye on the Festivals: The first Happy Hours film is expected to hit the festival circuit (likely Sundance or TIFF) before a wider release.
- Follow the Builders: Jackson has been more active on social media discussing his home-building project and his life as a single dad. It’s the most authentic he’s ever been.
- The Karate Kid Legacy: Karate Kid: Legends is likely heading to streaming soon if you missed the theatrical run. It’s a solid performance that shows off his physical transformation.
Joshua Jackson is in the middle of a massive personal and professional reset. He’s lost a house, a show, and a high-profile relationship, but he’s gaining a reputation as one of the most reliable and thoughtful actors in the business. The "Pacey" days are over, and honestly? What’s coming next looks much more interesting.