Honestly, the way we talk about celebrity "reunions" is usually pretty shallow. It’s all about the nostalgia, the hair updates, and who aged the best. But when the Dawson’s Creek cast got back together in late 2025, it wasn't just another walk down memory lane or a promo tour for a reboot. It was heavy. It was beautiful. And it was deeply complicated because the man at the center of the show, James Van Der Beek, wasn't actually in the building.
If you caught the headlines back in September, you know that a live script reading of the pilot was organized at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York. Michelle Williams—who Van Der Beek calls his "angel"—put the whole thing together. It was a benefit for F Cancer and to help with James’s own medical bills. Katie Holmes was there. Joshua Jackson was there. But James was stuck in Texas.
Why the James Van Der Beek reunion looked different than expected
There’s a lot of noise online about why James didn't show up. People saw the video he sent in and immediately panicked. He looked thin. Like, really thin. Naturally, everyone jumped to the conclusion that his stage 3 colorectal cancer was taking a massive toll. But that’s not the whole story.
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Basically, James got hit with two different stomach viruses right before he was supposed to fly out. It was a "worst possible moment" situation. When you're already fighting stage 3 cancer, a standard stomach bug doesn't just pass in 24 hours; it "supersizes," as he put it later on the Today show. That’s why he looked so gaunt in that pre-recorded message. He wasn't just dealing with a long-term illness; he was actively, miserably sick with a virus.
The coolest part? Since he couldn't be the "Dawson" for the night, Lin-Manuel Miranda stepped in. James joked that his kids would probably consider that an "upgrade." It’s that kind of humor that has defined how he’s handled this whole thing since his 2023 diagnosis.
The moment that made everyone cry
Even though James was watching via Zoom from his ranch, his family actually made it to the theater. His wife, Kimberly, and their six kids took their seats in the audience, and the crowd gave them a standing ovation before the show even started.
James talked about this with Craig Melvin recently, and he actually got emotional. He said all that love that would have been directed at him was directed at his family instead. For him, seeing his kids witness that kind of support was better than being on stage himself. It’s sort of a "main character" moment for a guy who spent years trying to distance himself from the Dawson Leery persona, only to find that the fans of that show are now the ones keeping him afloat.
The reality of the diagnosis
Let’s be real: stage 3 colorectal cancer is a "full-time job," as James says. He’s 48. He was in great shape. He was a guy who did yoga and ate well. Then, in the summer of 2023, he noticed his "bathroom habits" changed. He thought it was the coffee. Maybe the cream in the coffee? He cut it out, nothing changed, so he got a colonoscopy.
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He was 46 when he got the news. The current recommendation for screening is 45, which is something he’s been shouting from the rooftops lately. He didn't have a family history. He didn't have "red flags." He just had a feeling something was off.
What’s next for the Capeside crew?
While James is focusing on "cocooning" and recovering—he recently posted about how he’s making his New Year’s resolutions in the spring because winter is for resting—the rest of the cast is actually moving forward with some pretty wild projects.
If you’re dying for a Pacey and Joey fix, you’re actually getting it, just not in the way you think. Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson are currently filming a trilogy called Happy Hours. Katie is writing and directing. It’s not a Dawson’s Creek sequel, but they play a couple who were "young loves" and reconnect as adults. It’s basically the closest we’re ever going to get to a revival because Katie has been very vocal about not wanting to play Joey Potter as a middle-aged woman.
Where things stand right now
James is staying "cautiously optimistic." He’s living on that ranch in Austin, doing the keto thing, and taking things slow. He even sold off some of his old Varsity Blues and Dawson’s Creek memorabilia to help cover the costs of his treatment.
It’s a reminder that even for the guy who was the face of the WB for half a decade, life doesn't always follow a scripted character arc. But the "reunion" proved that the connection between that cast and those fans is weirdly indestructible.
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How to actually help or take action
If you’re reading this because you grew up with James on your screen and you’re worried, the best thing you can do is take his advice.
- Get the screening: If you’re 45 or older, or if you have any weird persistent changes in your digestion, get a colonoscopy. Don't assume it's the coffee.
- Support the cause: Organizations like F Cancer were the ones James partnered with for the New York event.
- Rest when you need to: James’s 2026 philosophy is all about aligning with nature. If you’re feeling burnt out or "gaunt" from your own life battles, take the winter to recover. Resolutions can wait until the flowers bloom.
The James Van Der Beek reunion wasn't a TV special. It was a real-life demonstration of how people show up for each other when things get messy. Whether we ever see the whole group on a soundstage together again matters a lot less than the fact that they’re still in each other's corners when it counts.