Katie Holmes has spent the last several years quietly building one of the more interesting second acts in Hollywood. While many audiences still associate her with the projects that made her a household name, Holmes has increasingly shifted her attention toward storytelling behind the camera, steadily developing her voice as a filmmaker.

That journey has seen her take on a variety of creative roles, from acting and writing to directing and producing. With each new project, she has become more ambitious in both scope and subject matter, earning attention on the independent film circuit for her character-driven approach to storytelling.

The project at the center of that attention is Happy Hours, a new romantic drama that recently premiered at a prestigious renowned festival. Between the talent involved, the response from early viewers, and the larger creative vision reportedly attached to the project, it has quickly become one of the more intriguing films currently making its way through the independent film landscape. So what exactly is Happy Hours about, and why has it generated so much interest?

At its core, Happy Hours is a romantic drama about timing, memory, and the lingering impact of first love. The film follows Liz, a newly divorced photographer played by Katie Holmes, who finds herself reassessing her life while navigating a major personal transition. Surrounded by seemingly happy couples and searching for a sense of direction, she unexpectedly comes across a familiar name that immediately transports her back to another chapter of her life.

That name belongs to Andrew McCloud, a successful travel writer portrayed by Joshua Jackson. Andrew is not simply someone from Liz's past—he was her first great love. The pair have not seen each other in years, and their relationship ended without the closure either of them truly needed.

Fate eventually brings them back together when Liz lands a photography assignment involving Andrew. What begins as an awkward reunion soon evolves into something deeper as old feelings resurface and long-buried conversations finally take place.

As Liz and Andrew reconnect, they begin revisiting both the memories they share and the lives they have built apart from one another. The story explores whether love that once felt inevitable can survive the passage of time and whether people can truly return to relationships that were left unfinished.

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According to festival materials, the film is designed as a decades-spanning romantic odyssey that celebrates New York City while examining the power of young love, second chances, and emotional growth. Rather than focusing on the excitement of a new relationship, Happy Hours is interested in what happens when two people are forced to confront the gap between the lives they imagined and the lives they actually lived.

One of the biggest reasons Happy Hours has attracted attention is its central casting. The film reunites Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson for the first time in a major project since their time on Dawson's Creek, where they famously portrayed Joey Potter and Pacey Witter. Their on-screen chemistry became one of the defining elements of the beloved teen drama and helped establish both actors as stars.

Following the film's premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, Jackson publicly praised Holmes' work behind the camera and reflected on what it was like watching his former co-star lead the production.

"I was amazed when we were kids and she was the bravest most raw of us telling the truth in every moment. And I am amazed now to watch her as a leader, with the same commitment to kindness, strength through compassion, to truth and the essential hopefulness of existence." Jackson wrote on Instagram several days after the film's Tribeca premiere.

More than two decades later, that shared history naturally adds another layer to Happy Hours. While the film stands on its own as an original story, audiences familiar with Holmes and Jackson's earlier work have been particularly eager to see the pair share the screen again.

Early reviews suggest that the reunion works. Critics have repeatedly pointed to the natural chemistry between the actors as one of the film's greatest strengths, helping sell the emotional connection between Liz and Andrew without requiring extensive exposition.

The supporting cast further strengthens the project and includes Mary-Louise Parker, Constance Wu, Joe Tippett, John McGinty, Jack Martin, Johnna Dias-Watson, Donald Webber Jr., and Chloë Kerwin.

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His comments highlighted another aspect of the project that has drawn interest: this is not simply a film starring Holmes. It is a film she wrote, directed, and built from the ground up.

While many viewers are discovering Happy Hours because of its cast, the project's long-term ambitions may ultimately prove even more interesting. Reports surrounding the film have indicated that Holmes envisions the story as the beginning of a trilogy rather than a standalone romance. If those plans move forward, audiences could follow Liz and Andrew across multiple chapters of their lives, allowing the relationship to evolve in real time rather than being confined to a single film.

That approach has led some observers to compare the project to Richard Linklater's acclaimed Before trilogy. While the similarities should not be overstated, both projects share an interest in examining how relationships change over time and how different stages of life reshape the people involved.

Critics have also noted that Happy Hours places a strong emphasis on conversation, reflection, and emotional intimacy rather than traditional romantic-comedy formulas. The film appears more interested in exploring the realities of adulthood, regret, friendship, and personal growth than delivering a straightforward fairy-tale romance.

The project also marks another significant step in Holmes' evolution as a filmmaker. After directing All We Had, Alone Together, and Rare Objects, she continues to establish a creative identity centered on grounded characters and emotionally driven storytelling.

At the time of writing, Happy Hours does not yet have a confirmed wide theatrical release date. However, its Tribeca premiere has already sparked considerable conversation, and the combination of its acclaimed cast, nostalgic appeal, and larger trilogy plans suggests that this may be only the beginning of the film's journey.

Whether Happy Hours ultimately becomes a modern romance favorite or the first chapter of a much larger story, it is already clear that Holmes is aiming for something more ambitious than a simple reunion film. And if the response from early audiences is any indication, many viewers are eager to see where that journey leads next—including where viewers can watch Happy Hours once it becomes more widely available.

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Do you think Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson can recapture the magic that made them fan favorites on Dawson's Creek? Let us know in the comments.