Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson’s Friends Want Them to ‘Give Romance a Shot’ (Exclusive)

Friends of Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson are rooting for them to rekindle their romance nearly 30 years after they first dated, a source exclusively tells In Touch.

“All of Katie and Joshua’s friends would love to see them get together and it’s been that way for a while now,” the source says, noting that the pair, who were romantically involved for about a year in 1998 while starring together on Dawson’s Creek, are now “the best of friends who totally respect and adore one another.”

The source adds that their connection is obvious whenever they spend time together, describing their “chemistry” as “off the charts.”

Holmes, who once hinted that Jackson was her “first love” in Rolling Stone, “lights up whenever Joshua’s around and vice versa,” the source continues. “He absolutely adores her and it’s very clear that there’s a major attraction.”

While their timing has been an issue in the past, the source explains that there may no longer be anything standing in the way.

“Up until now, the timing hasn’t been right [for them to be a couple,] but this seems like there’s nothing to hold them back right now,” the source shares. “At least, that’s what people in their worlds are hoping will happen.”

Holmes and Jackson, both 47, reunited in their upcoming film, Happy Hours, and on April 16, she shared a photo on Instagram of herself with her arms flung around the Mighty Ducks star.

“The movie’s coming out fairly soon so they’ll be spending plenty of time on the road together, doing promos and kicking back one on one,” the source continues. “So it makes perfect sense for them to take that leap and give romance a shot.”

As In Touch previously reported, fans were excited to see the Disturbing Behavior actress liking comments on the Instagram post where people said they were rooting for the two to spark up a romantic relationship.

“The fact Katie is liking these types of posts really speaks volumes and it’s got her friends extremely hopeful,” the source says. “There’s no way she’s just doing that for banter or attention. It’s clearly a signal for Joshua that she’s ready to make this move.”

The source also points out that Jackson “checks every box for her – he’s incredibly charming and handsome, successful and kind, cultured and charming, the list goes on and on.” Plus, it’s helpful that their connection “goes both ways.”

“He adores Katie and tells everyone around him that she’s a beautiful person inside and out,” the source notes. “There really isn’t anything to hold them back except wariness or that typical concern about jeopardizing a beautiful friendship.”

However, the source says that former costars’ friends are “encouraging them” because they believe “it’s a risk worth taking.”

“This could be their real life fairytale, after all, if they’re willing to go for it,” the source concludes. “And nobody would disagree they both deserve that happily ever after.”

Holmes was previously married to Tom Cruise, and after their split, she and Jamie Foxx dated for several years. Her last relationship was with musician Bobby Wooten II but they went their separate ways in 2022 after eight months together.

Jackson and his ex-wife, Jodie Turner-Smith, divorced in 2023 after four years of marriage. Later, he was rumored to have a brief fling with Lupita Nyong’o.