'Dawson's Creek': Where Are They Now?

July 17, 2012— -- intro: A "Dawson's Creek" reunion is looking more likely.

Three of its four stars, Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes and James Van Der Beek, have each expressed an interest in returning to Capeside. Just last week, Williams, who played blonde bad girl Jen Lindley on the 90's show, said at a Comic-Con press conference for "Oz: The Great and Powerful" that she "would happily" take part in a reunion special.

"I've always said that I would really love to and I think independently, we've all been saying that," Williams told reporters.

Of course, writers would have to find a creative way to bring Jen back. "My character died in the end, so there are certain limitations for me," the 31-year-old actress said. "It's either I come back as a ghost or I'm shot through a lot of gauzy, hazy light as my nineteen-year-old self."

Now that she's ended her five-year marriage to Tom Cruise, Holmes may be up for reprising her breakout role as "girl next door" Joey Potter. According to Us Weekly, Cruise was not keen on the idea.

"[Producers] were begging her to sign on for a reunion movie," a source told Us Weekly. "Tom said absolutely no way and thought going backward would be bad."

But Holmes seemed more open to it last fall during an appearance on "Good Morning America."

"It would be fun," the 33-year-old told Robin Roberts. "I had so much fun working on that show and I loved everyone so much and I think about it with such fond memories."

"Dawson's Creek," about a close-knit group of teenagers growing up in the fictional seaside town of Capeside, Mass., debuted in 1998 on the WB network and ended in 2003 with the characters in college. It generated buzz for its verbose dialogue and its characters' preoccupation with sex.

Van Der Beek, who played Dawson, has also said he'd happily reunite with his former co-stars though he didn't know of any plans to do so.

"I feel like this is the number one question that we get asked. Nobody's producing it, nobody's writing it, it's just something that comes in the press," Van Der Beek told Kelly Ripa in April.

Only Joshua Jackson, who starred as Pacey, seemed pessimistic about a possible reunion.

"Well, we killed the show so I don't think that's ever going to happen," Jackson told The Hollywood Reporter. "Never say never. If I'm out of work for enough years, absolutely. We'll be old and gray and nasty by the time [that happens]."

Perhaps, but right now, the former co-stars are in the prime of their lives and careers. Click through to see what they and the other stars of "Dawson's Creek" have been up to since the show wrapped.

quicklist: 1title: Michelle Williamstext: Like her character Jen, Williams has said she grew up "too fast," becoming emancipated from her parents as a working child actor, leaving school in ninth grade to be home-tutored and landing the role on "Dawson's Creek" by 17. While working on the WB series, she began taking film roles in slasher films and teen comedies before graduating to more challenging independent fare. Williams gained Hollywood's attention -- and her first Oscar nod -- playing Heath Ledger's wife in 2005's "Brokeback Mountain." In real life, Williams went on to have daughter, Matilda, with the late actor before they split. She's now linked with comic actor Jason Segel. Career-wise, she's a member of Hollywood's A-list, having earned two more Oscar nominations, this time for best actress, for "Blue Valentine" and "My Week With Marilyn."media: 16787952

quicklist: 2title: Katie Holmestext: Before landing the breakout role of Joey Potter her senior year of high school, Holmes had already made her foray into films, starting with a minor part in Ang Lee's "The Ice Storm" in 1997. While starring in "Dawson's" and afterward, she appeared in a number of promising roles in movies such as, "Wonder Boys," "Pieces of April" and "First Daughter," but described her film career in 2005 as a series of "bombs" because none of them landed in the top 10. Her role as Rachel Dawes in "Batman Begins" in 2005 was highly criticized and she was replaced by Maggie Gyllenhaal in the sequel. With her career seemingly at a crossroads, Holmes entered another stratosphere with her marriage to Cruise, with whom she has 6-year-old daughter Suri. Now a single mom, Holmes is busy planning her first-ever show for her clothing line, Holmes & Yang, at New York's Fashion Week in the fall. Also this fall, she is due to shoot "Responsible Adults," a romantic comedy with Chace Crawford. media: 16787755

quicklist: 3title: James Van Der Beektext: Nine years after "Dawson's Creek," Van Der Beek returned to television on ABC's "Don't Trust the B— in Apt 23," playing a version of his alter ego now grown up as a womanizing bachelor with a film and stage career. In real life, Van Der Beek, 35, is the father of two young children who struggled for years in Hollywood to break free of "Dawson." His film career stalled, he appeared in television movies and made guest appearances on various shows, before embracing his teen idol past in a number of "Funny or Die" videos, a K$sha music video and his own "Van Der Memes."media: 16787654

quicklist: 4title: Joshua Jacksontext: Rounding out the original gang of four, Jackson has stayed busy since his long run on "Dawson's Creek." The 34-year-old actor has appeared in more than 32 film roles, including "The Mighty Ducks" franchise. He continues to do television, currently starring in J.J. Abrams "Fringe." Jackson, who briefly dated Holmes early in the show's run, appears often on the red carpet with his girlfriend since 2006, Diane Kruger, with whom he shares homes in Vancouver, Canada, and Paris.media: 16787837

quicklist: 5title: Busy Phillipstext: Busy Phillips, who's birth name is Elizabeth Jean, appeared as Audrey Liddell in seasons 5 and 6 of "Dawson's Creek." She went on to perform in mostly comedic roles in films like "White Chicks" and "He's Just Not That Into You." Currently, she plays Courteney Cox's assistant on the ABC sitcom "Cougar Town." Phillips, 33, has stayed close with Williams, who made her Matilda's godmother. She attended this year's Oscar ceremony with her close friend. Married to screenwriter Marc Silverstein in 2007, Phillips gave birth to Birdie Leigh Silverstein, on August 13, 2008.media: 16788082