From Dawson’s Creek to The Vampire Diaries to The Waterfront, Kevin Williamson has created his own TV universe.
Williamson got his start as an actor before pivoting to writing scripts. He created the screenplay for iconic horror franchise Scream, which has resulted in six sequels — and counting — so far. Williamson solidified his place in the horror space with I Know What You Did Last Summer.
On the small screen, Williamson has been responsible for launching the careers of actors who starred on Dawson’s Creek, The Vampire Diaries, The Secret Circle and more. He has also enjoyed collaborating with the same people across many of his projects.
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“I do think I’m in a little bit of a second or third or fourth wind,” he told TV Insider in June 2025 of his entertainment career. “I feel like I’ve had five careers. I honestly felt like I was ready to retire, and it turned out I wasn’t. I think the pandemic changed a lot. I got so ready for something else. I was inside for too long, and I just had to do something. If you want something done, ask a busy person. I think it keeps you alive.”
‘Dawson’s Creek’ Cast: Where Are They Now?
Scroll down for every TV show in Williamson’s comedy universe:
‘Dawson’s Creek’
Dawson’s Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, centered around Joey Potter (Katie Holmes) who was navigating school after the death of her mother. She subsequently ended up in a love triangle with Dawson Leery (James Van Der Beek) and best friend Pacey (Joshua Jackson). In addition to the trio, the hit series also starred Michelle Williams, Meredith Monroe, Busy Philipps and more.
‘Wasteland’
Starring Sasha Alexander, Marisa Coughlan, Rebecca Gayheart and Eddie Mills, Wasteland told the story of six friends after college. ABC aired only three episodes in 1999 before it was canceled.
‘Glory Days’
The one-season series centered around a novelist (Eddie Cahill) who returned to his hometown, where various odd and unpleasant occurrences were taking place. Glory Days also starred Poppy Montgomery, Jay R. Ferguson, Emily VanCamp, Ben Crowley and Amy Stewart.
‘Hidden Palms’
Williamson introduced a group of teenagers and their families residing in Palm Springs, California, in Hidden Palms. Despite only airing for one season in 2007, the show featured a star-studded cast including Michael Cassidy, Taylor Handley, Amber Heard, Sharon Lawrence, D. W. Moffett, Gail O’Grady, Ellary Porterfield and Tessa Thompson.
Projects That Reunited ‘The Vampire Diaries’ Cast, Crew After the Show Ended
‘The Vampire Diaries’
The CW series, which debuted in 2009, introduced viewers to the fictional town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, which was full of supernatural events. At the center of the series was Elena (Nina Dobrev), who found herself caught between the Salvatore brothers, Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon (Ian Somerhalder).
The Vampire Diaries came to an end in 2017, but the franchise has continued with various spinoffs including The Originals and Legacies.
‘The Secret Circle’
Set in the fictional town of Chance Harbor, Washington, the series introduced viewers to a teenager who discovered that she is a hereditary witch and subsequently became the sixth member of a secret coven. Britt Robertson, Thomas Dekker, Phoebe Tonkin, Shelley Hennig, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Louis Hunter and Chris Zylka made up the cast.
‘The Following’
Fox’s The Following explored a former FBI agent (Kevin Bacon) who got called back into action when the serial killer he put away 10 years ago escaped prison.
‘Stalker’
The short-lived series, which starred Maggie Q and Dylan McDermott, centered around the victims of stalking and the detectives of the LAPD’s Threat Assessment Unit who investigate the crimes.
‘Scream’ TV Show Cast: Where Are They Now?
‘Scream’
Following the success of the Scream movie franchise, MTV introduced a more long-term slasher concept in the form of a TV series. Scream premiered in 2015 as a separate entity based on murders that took place in the fictional town of Lakewood. Emma Duval (Willa Fitzgerald) found herself taunted by the killer due to her connection to the town’s dark history.
The series was picked up for a third season in 2016 but that later turned into a reboot. The short-lived show — titled Scream: Resurrection — introduced a new setting and cast.
‘Time After Time’
Based on the 1979 novel of the same name, Time After Time focused on the adventures of science fiction writer H.G. Wells as he pursued well-known serial killer Jack the Ripper. ABC removed the series from its schedule in 2017 after only five episodes aired.
‘Tell Me a Story’
The Spanish TV series Cuéntame un cuento inspired the show, which depicted iconic fairy tales reimagined as modern-day thrillers. Danielle Campbell and Wesley appeared in both seasons of the series, while the rest of the ensemble cast changed.
‘The Waterfront’
Based on true events, The Waterfront follows a dysfunctional family as they struggle to keep their crumbling North Carolina fishing empire afloat. The cast is made up of Holt McCallany, Maria Bello, Melissa Benoist, Jake Weary, Rafael L. Silva, Humberly González and Campbell.
TV Shows That Changed Their Premise: From ‘Scrubs’ to ‘Saved by the Bell’
‘Rear Window’
Peacock greenlit Rear Window as a reimagining of the Alfred Hitchcock film, which followed a man who spied on his neighbors through his window.
‘The It Girl’
Williamson is also in development on a series about a woman on the search for answers a decade after her friend’s murder.
‘The Game’
The possible Peacock series centers around a wealthy San Francisco banker who — according to the official synopsis — is “given an opportunity to participate in a mysterious game that turns his life upside down as he begins to question if it might really be a concealed conspiracy to destroy him.”
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