In a twist that has left fans abuzz, actor James Van Der Beek revealed that he will not be attending the eagerly anticipated Dawson’s Creek reunion.
“This was the event I had been most excited about since my dear friend Michelle Williams mentioned she was organizing it way back in January,” Van Der Beek, 48, lamented in a heartfelt Instagram post shared on September 21, just a day before the reunion was planned.
He expressed his disappointment: “You can imagine my devastation when a double dose of stomach viruses decided to pin me down at the most inconvenient time. Despite my best efforts… I won’t be able to make it. I’m heartbroken to miss the chance to stand on that stage and express my gratitude to every person in the audience for supporting me in my battle against cancer.”
The original cast, including Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, and Joshua Jackson, joined forces with F Cancer for this charity event, which took place in New York City on September 22. Other notable attendees included Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe, and Busy Philipps.
The gathering included a live reading of the pilot episode, aiming to raise funds for charity and providing support as Van Der Beek battles stage 3 colorectal cancer. “We all have a lifelong bond from our time in Capeside,” commented Williams, the architect of the reunion, emphasizing her commitment to supporting their friend. “We wanted to remind James that our love and support are unwavering, just as I know Dawson’s Creek fans feel.”
In attendance would also be the show’s creator, Kevin Williamson.
In his post, Van Der Beek cheekily mentioned his replacement for the evening. “I have an understudy. An incredibly overqualified stand-in who would have been my first choice (had I ever dared to dream he might be free),” he quipped. “Someone my kids would surely view as an upgrade over me… And he already knows how to find the theater. Lucky us!”
He continued with a flourish, “The role of ‘Dawson,’ typically brought to life by James Van Der Beek, will now be played by Lin-Manuel Miranda. I can’t believe I just typed that. Enjoy all the love in the room, and please send some our way. I will be beaming from a bed in Austin.”
Van Der Beek extended his gratitude to his last-minute stand-in for the evening. “And a big thanks to @lin_manuel. You were a hero to my kids before… now you’re practically a demigod.”
