Lin-Manuel Miranda Steps In For James Van Der Beek at Dawson’s Creek Reunion
James Van Der Beek has withdrawn from Monday’s live reading of the Dawson’s Creek pilot script due too illness, with Lin-Manuel Miranda set to replace him in the role of Dawson Leery. The event, organized by Michelle Williams, will benefit the organization F Cancer.
Van Der Beek announced his last-minute departure sunday night via Instagram, citing “two stomach viruses” as the cause. He expressed deep disappointment at missing the reunion, especially given his recent health battle – he revealed a stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis in November 2023 after initial detection in August 2023 via colonoscopy – and the support he anticipated receiving.
The New York City event at the Richard Rodgers Theater will still feature original cast members Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe, and Busy Phillips.
“This is the evening I’d been looking forward to MOST as my angel michelle Williams said she was putting it together… So you can imagine how gutted I was,” Van Der Beek wrote on Instagram. “Despite every effort… I won’t get to be there.”
He also playfully acknowledged Miranda’s involvement, calling the Hamilton creator a “ridiculously overqualified replacement” and joking that his own children would likely consider Miranda an upgrade. “Someone my kids would definitely consider an upgrade over me… Plus, he already knows how to get to the theater. So that’s convenient,” he added.