Joshua Jackson’s ABC seriesDoctor Odysseymight have been canceled by the network for the time being, but Jackson still has other projects lined up. He is attached to a so-far untitled series helmed by Ava DuVernay as well as a trilogy of movies on the way.
ABC effectively canceledDoctor Odysseywhen releasing actors from their contracts with the series so that they are able to pursue such projects. Though Jackson got his start in movies as a child and had his big break withThe Mighty Ducks, in recent years, he has spent more time on the small screen in limited-run series likeDoctor Odyssey.
His move back into films is only part of what makes Jackson’s next project exciting.
Joshua Jackson’s Doctor Odyssey Follow-Up Is A Reunion Project With Katie Holmes
Jackson And Holmes First Worked Together In Dawson’s Creek
Jackson appeared inKarate Kid: Legendsin 2025, buthis next project will beHappy HourswithKatie Holmes. Holmes and Jackson have a long history in the industry together.
Though Jackson got his start as a child actor and became a household name withThe Mighty Ducks, the teen dramaDawson’s Creekhelped Jackson transition to more adult roles.Dawson’s Creekwas Katie Holmes’ first television series.
Dawson’s Creekfollowed the titular Dawson (James Van Der Beek) and his friends Pacey (Jackson) and Joey (Holmes) as they navigate high school, college, and finding their dream jobs. The teen soap also had a heavy focus on the romances that cropped up between the characters.
Jackson and Holmes saw their characters become a fan-favorite coupleduring the run of their series. Joey and Pacey were Dawson’s best friends, but bickered during the early episodes before finding common ground and falling for one another.
Holmes and Jackson also briefly dated while working together on the series, and have remained friends ever since. They have appeared together for reunion interviews and spoken about their time on the show fondly.
What Happy Hours Is About & Why It’s So Exciting
Happy Hours Will Be A Trilogy
Holmes and Jackson reuniting forHappy Hoursis the first time the two have worked together sinceDawson’s Creekended.Holmes is writing, directing, and starring in the trilogyof movies. Jackson has been cast opposite her.
According to Holmes’ own Instagram post, the movies will also star Constance Wu, Mary Louise Parker, John McGinty, and more.
The trilogy offers a second-chance romance story.Holmes and Jackson play a pair who once shared young loveand reconnect as adults. According to the officialHappy Hoursdescription, the trilogy presents:
…a story about two people navigating their relationship within the challenges of careers and family responsibilities and the pursuit of love, despite life’s inevitable obstacles. It’s a character-driven dramedy that explores the emotional journey of young loves who reconnect as adults, with the connective thread of shared joys, loss, and hope.
Photos from filming in New York have surfaced on social media since the announcement was made, and fans of the actors have beencomparing their photographed interactions to those of Pacey and Joeyduring their time onDawson’s Creek. The actors have been using similar body language as to when they played theDawson’s Creekcharacters.
Holmes and Jackson have always had fantastic chemistry on camera, even when their characters were arguing or avoiding one another inDawson’s Creek, so fans of the series are eager to see them perform together again 20 years later. Some fans have even been referencing the series as an alternate universe for Joey and Pacey.
Happy Hoursis unique in that most romances are one-and-done stories when it comes to the big screen. It’s rare for a rom-com or a romantic drama to get a sequel, no matter how popular it is. Movies like the sequels toBridget Jones’s DiaryorThe Princess Diariesare the exception, not the rule.
For this story to be presented as a trilogy means it will be able to have an in-depth exploration of the relationships, and the audience will get to spend even more time with the characters. It’s a win-win for those who were fans ofDawson’s Creekand for modern romance fans.
Why Doctor Odyssey Ending With Season 1 Is Easier To Accept After The Finale
The Doctor Odyssey Ending Offers A Satisfying Conclusion
WhileDawson’s Creekdemonstrated that Jackson had a gift for dramatic romance stories as a teen,Doctor Odysseydemonstrates that Jackson still has that gift as an adult. He is also particularly charming on screen.
While many were disappointed that there was no renewal news forDoctor Odyssey, the conclusion of the single season that aired on ABC means that the lack of renewal is easier to accept.
TheDoctor Odysseycharacters largely get their versions of happy endings, with Phillipa Soo’s Avery heading to medical school and Sean Teale’s Tristan accepting Avery’s relationship with Max (Jackson). Sure, fans would have loved to see more medical mysteries and soapy drama against the backdrop of a cruise, but the series did not end on a cliffhanger.
ABC also left the ball in showrunner Ryan Murphy’s court with the idea that the series’ concept could return as an anthology or the cast could be enticed to come back years later if Murphy is interested in pursuing more stories.
With the effective cancellation ofDoctor Odyssey, Jackson fans can rest assured that they still haveHappy Hoursto look forward to. In fact, without the series being canceled, Jackson might not have room in his schedule forHappy Hours.
