Katie Holmes has set social media ablaze after appearing to encourage speculation about a potential romantic reunion with her former boyfriend and Dawson's Creek co-star Joshua Jackson.
The 47-year-old actress posted a photograph on Instagram on Thursday, April 16, showing herself embracing Jackson, also 47, while announcing their upcoming film collaboration. The post quickly became a focal point for fans hoping to see the former couple reunite both on and off screen.
"We are so thrilled to be a part of the Tribeca Film Festival this June with our film Happy Hours," Holmes wrote in the caption. "So many beautiful people worked on this project. And working with Josh again was a dream."
What truly fueled speculation, however, was Holmes' deliberate engagement with comments from followers expressing their desire to see the former couple together again. The actress liked multiple messages referencing their past romance, including one that read, "Could you be anymore gorgeous together," and another stating, "My favorite couple of all time can wait to see you new film."
Most notably, Holmes liked a comment that simply declared, "They should be a couple." She also engaged with a fan who joked they wished "this was a hard launch," using terminology typically associated with celebrities publicly confirming new relationships.
The history between Holmes and Jackson dates back to their time portraying Joey Potter and Pacey Witter on the beloved WB series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003. The actors dated in real life during the show's first season, from 1998 to 1999, two seasons before their characters became romantically involved on screen.
Jackson addressed their unique situation during a 2006 appearance on Late Night With Conan O'Brien. "Katie and I did have a romance. Which is ancient history now, but I can't tell you how much fun it is to have an actual romance, and then we broke up, and then a year later to have an onscreen romance," he said. "Because there's nothing more fun than going to work with your ex-girlfriend every day."
Despite their breakup, the two actors have maintained a friendship that has endured through subsequent relationships and life changes. Their professional reunion comes in the form of Happy Hours, a film written and directed by Holmes that follows two young lovers who reconnect and rekindle their romance. The project will premiere at the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival in June.
Holmes first announced the collaboration in July 2025, writing on Instagram: "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."
The timing of Holmes' social media activity has prompted widespread discussion about whether the actress is simply enjoying playful banter with fans or subtly hinting at a deeper development in her relationship with Jackson. By actively engaging with comments suggesting they should reunite romantically, Holmes has demonstrated an awareness of public interest in their relationship while stopping short of confirming or denying anything definitive.
The photograph itself, showing the former couple in an intimate embrace, has only added fuel to the speculation. For fans who watched Joey and Pacey's romance unfold on Dawson's Creek more than two decades ago, the possibility of a real-life reunion between Holmes and Jackson represents a rare instance of art potentially imitating life imitating art.
Whether Holmes' social media engagement represents genuine romantic interest or simply an actress having fun with her fanbase remains to be seen. What is certain is that the upcoming premiere of Happy Hours at the Tribeca Film Festival will draw significant attention, with audiences eager to see the chemistry between two actors whose on-screen and off-screen histories remain deeply intertwined.