James Van Der Beek Drops Out Of Dawson's Creek Reunion Benefit Due To Illness, Will Be Replaced By Lin-Manuel Miranda

By Dave Nemetz
Dawson's Creek Reunion James Van Der Beek Lin-Manuel Miranda Courtesy of The WB (inset: Kristina Bumphrey/Variety)

Dawson Leery won't be returning to Dawson's Creek after all.

James Van Der Beek, who starred as the title character in the beloved WB teen drama, has dropped out of a planned "Class Reunion" benefit on Monday, with the original cast reuniting for a live reading of the pilot script. The culprit is a severe stomach illness, Van Der Beek explained on Instagram.

"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," Van Der Beek wrote. "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. Despite every effort... I won't get to be there."

But the show will go on, with Hamilton star Lin-Manuel Miranda stepping in to read the part of Dawson in Van Der Beek's place. "I DO have an understudy," Van Der Beek added. "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."

First announced back in August, the Dawson's Creek "Class Reunion" event will reunite the show's stars Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe and Busy Philipps at New York City's Richard Rodgers Theatre for a one-night-only live reading of the pilot episode's script. Proceeds from the event will benefit F Cancer and Van Der Beek, who was diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer in November. It would have marked the first time the full Dawson's Creek cast has appeared together since the show ended in 2003 after a six-season run.

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