James Van Der Beek’s Final Role Will Premiere Months After His Death

Fans of James Van Der Beek will get one last chance to witness him on screen when the final television series of his career premieres this July.

Van Der Beek rose to prominence portraying the beloved Dawson Leery on “Dawson’s Creek” from 1998 to 2003. This role established him as one of television’s defining teen drama stars of the late ‘90s.

The actor tragically passed away following a prolonged battle with colorectal cancer. His wife, Kimberly, confirmed the news on Instagram after reports first broke out across various media outlets.

Van Der Beek’s final television role will be in the upcoming Amazon Prime Video teen-comedy series, “Elle.” The show will serve as a prequel to the “Legally Blonde” film franchise.

According to Deadline, Van Der Beek portrays Dean Wilson, described as a “new mayoral candidate and school district superintendent.”

The feature on Deadline was accompanied by a statement from Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios in honor of the late star.

“We are proud to have worked with [James] as a creative partner on “Overcompensating” and the upcoming “Elle,” where his gift for comedic timing led to memorable performances,” the statement read in part.

Fans will have to wait until July 2026 to watch Van Der Beek in his final television role, when the first season of “Elle” premieres on Amazon Prime Video. The series has already been renewed for a second season ahead of its debut.

Set years before the events of “Legally Blonde,” the show follows Elle Woods’ teenage life as a high school student.

Reese Witherspoon, who famously portrayed Elle in the original films, announced the return of the character in a post on her Instagram in May 2024.

Witherspoon is also attached to the prequel series as an executive producer through her production company, Hello Sunshine.

In May 2025, right in the midst of his battle with cancer, Van Der Beek revealed that he would be joining the cast of “Elle.”

Sharing a screenshot of the casting announcement on Instagram, the actor expressed his heartfelt excitement about returning to work.

“Super excited to join this awesome cast in such a fun project,” Van Der Beek wrote. “Almost as excited as my wife and girls are that I’m doing this.”

Witherspoon responded with an exuberant comment, welcoming him into the “Legally Blonde” universe.

“YES!! Best news ever! Welcome to our show,” Witherspoon said.

The original “Legally Blonde” film premiered in 2001 as a big-screen adaptation of the similarly titled novel by Amanda Brown.

From an $18 million budget, the movie became a resounding commercial success, grossing over $140 million and solidifying Elle Woods as a staple of modern pop culture.

The film’s popularity led to a direct sequel, “Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde,” which was released in 2003. A third picture in the series was announced in 2018, although those plans are yet to materialize.

That did not stop the development of a TV series, however.

The development of “Elle” became public knowledge after Amazon acquired MGM in 2023, when the prequel series was announced among a roster of shows that were in the works.

In addition to his role in “Elle,” James Van Der Beek will also appear posthumously in the upcoming thriller “The Gates.”

According to an exclusive report from The Wrap, the film has a planned theatrical release date of March 13, 2026.

“The Gates” stars Mason Gooding, Algee Smith, and Keith Powers as three college students on a road trip. Their adventure turns into a nightmare when they witness a murder while taking a shortcut through a gated community.

Van Der Beek plays the film’s primary antagonist, described as a “cunning patriarch” who controls the community.

The Wrap also confirmed the movie is directed by John Burr and produced by Nancy Leopardi, Ross Kohn, and Gary Glushon.