James Van Der Beek has been forced to drop out of the Dawson’s Creek reunion on medical grounds.
The cast of the hit teen TV show are due to get back together at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City later this evening for a live reading of the pilot episode in aid of the F Cancer charity.
However, James – who is battling stage 3 colorectal cancer – has been forced to cancel after falling ill, with a big name stepping in to replace him.
‘This is the evening I’d been looking forward to MOST since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together, way back in January,’ he wrote on Instagram.
‘So you can imagine how gutted I was when two stomach viruses conspired to knock me out of commission and keep me grounded at the worst possible moment.’
James admitted that ‘despite every effort’, he won’t get to be part of the event and thank the Dawson’s Creek fans for ‘showing up for me’.
Who will replace James Van Der Beek in the Dawson’s Creek reunion?
The event will still go ahead with Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson, while James will be replaced by none other than Lin-Manuel Miranda.
The Hamilton creator will take on the part of Dawson Leery for the table read.
James went on to add: “I DO have an understudy. A ridiculously overqualified replacement who would have been #1 on my wishlist (had I ever dreamed he’d be available).
‘Someone my kids would definitely consider an upgrade over me … Plus, he already knows how to get to the theater. So that’s convenient.
‘The role of Dawson, usually played by James Van Der Beek … Will be played by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Can’t believe I just got to type that.’
He promised to be ‘beaming and receiving’ the ‘love in that room’ from his bed in Austin, Texas, while making a cheeky reference to Moana to thank Lin-Manuel.
He said: ‘You were a hero to my kids before … now you’re a demigod.’
Fellow cast members Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe, and Busy Philipps will also be part of the reunion.
Kerr, Meredith and Busy all joined the show after the first season, so will read various other roles instead of appearing as their own characters.
Jason Moore, one of the show’s original directors, will take the reins on the reading, while Michelle, her husband Thomas Kail, and Dawson’s Creek creator Kevin Williamson are among the producers.
My Week with Marilyn star Michelle – who played Jen Lindley – previously said in a statement: ‘We grew up in Capeside and that’s a bond that will last a lifetime. We wanted to gather around our dear friend James and remind him that we are all here.
‘We always have been and we always will be. And I know the fans of Dawson’s Creek feel the same way.’
And Creator Kevin added: ‘Dawson’s Creek changed my life. What began as a personal story about a young man and his friends navigating their way through the challenges of life became so much more than I ever dreamed.
‘It created an enduring fandom and legacy all over the world. I am so honoured to be a part of it and to support our beautiful friend, James, as we continue to navigate our way through life and its many challenges.’
James has been acting for decades and, aside from Dawson’s Creek, also played a fictional version of himself in Don’t Trust the B—- In Apartment 23, starred in CSI: Cyber as FBI agent Elijah Mundo, and as Matt Bromley in the first season of the FX drama Pose.
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