Fans get one last glimpse of James Van Der Beek on screen.
The late actor, who died on February 11 at the age of 48 after battling colon cancer, delivers his final film performance in the upcoming thriller The gates – and it’s not exactly Dawson Leery.
In the newly released trailer, Van Der Beek plays a menacing priest named Jacob who leads a gated community with a chilling warning: “I’ve been called to lead this community and those boys seek to destroy us. Find them and let God’s will be done.”
Later, holding three characters at gunpoint, he added, “You’ve seen what happens when people get in my way.”
Directed by John Burr and set for theatrical release on March 13, the film follows three friends who witness a murder and become targets of Jacob and his sleazy neighbors. The cast includes Mason Gooding, Algee Smith, Keith Powers and Brad Leland.
Van Der Beek famously rose to stardom as Dawson Leery on Dawson’s Creek and later appeared in films such as Varsity Blues and The rules of attraction.
After the trailer dropped, tributes poured in. One fan wrote: “Sad to think this is probably James Van Der Beek’s last performance ever. RIP” Another added: “I see this for James Van Der Beek. RIP Dawson.”
After his death, a GoFundMe launched for his wife Kimberly and their six children has raised nearly $2 million.
