The entertainment world is currently processing the emotional release of the trailer for The Gates, a Lionsgate horror thriller that features one of the final performances from James Van Der Beek. The actor, who became a household name on Dawson’s Creek, passed away on February 11, 2026, at the age of 49 due to complications from stage 3 colorectal cancer.
This viral look at the film arrived just one week after his death, highlighting a chilling role where he plays a villainous patriarch named Jacob who rules over a gated community with terrifying authority. While there are no large-scale surveys to quantify how often actors work through terminal illness, documented cases from entertainment sources show several prominent examples of stars finishing their projects despite severe health battles.
This includes actors like Chadwick Boseman and Alan Rickman, among others.
The timing of this trailer has created a profound moment for fans who are seeing the actor in a completely different light than his previous leading man roles. In this suspenseful project directed by John Burr, Van Der Beek portrays a manipulative religious leader who commits a murder witnessed by three friends played by Mason Gooding, Algee Smith, and Keith Powers.
The story follows these young men as they become trapped and hunted by the very community that Van Der Beek’s character influences. It is a stark departure for the actor, who was diagnosed with cancer and publicly disclosed this to the world in November 2024.
Seeing him command the screen as a sinister figure while he was privately facing such a difficult medical reality adds a heavy layer of gravity to the footage.
A Powerful Final Turn As A Silver Screen Villain
The footage released by Lionsgate showcases a performance that is already being described as haunting by those who have viewed the teaser online. Van Der Beek delivers several lines that set a dark tone for the film, at one point stating that he has been called upon to lead the community.
His character takes on a terrifying ego, eventually telling his targets that, inside the gates of their neighborhood, he is a god.
These words carry a specific weight now that audiences know the physical struggle the actor was enduring during the time this film was being brought to life. Director John Burr expressed his condolences following the loss of his lead actor, specifically noting the strong connections Van Der Beek made with the rest of the cast and crew during production.
This portrayal of an evil pastor allows the actor to lean into a manipulative and sinister energy that many fans have not seen from him before. He plays Jacob as a man who believes his power is absolute, telling the boys who witnessed his crime that they are the ones seeking to destroy the community’s peace.
The suspenseful tone of the trailer has elicited immediate, emotional reactions across social media platforms. Indeed, this role serves as a final reminder of his range as a performer. Even without quantitative metrics on view counts yet, the conversational buzz suggests that the audience is deeply moved by the sight of him on screen.
The Long History Of Finishing The Job
Continuing to work through a serious diagnosis is a path several Hollywood legends have taken before Van Der Beek. Spencer Tracy famously completed his work on Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner while suffering from severe heart disease, often filming while seated and passing away only 17 days after the cameras stopped rolling.
Similarly, John Cazale filmed his entire role in The Deer Hunter while battling late-stage lung cancer, with a co-star even stepping in to guarantee his insurance so he could finish. These actors often relied on production adaptations such as shortened shooting days, specific costume adjustments for weight loss, or the heavy use of stunt teams to ensure they could reach the finish line of principal photography.
Patrick Swayze also notably filmed an entire season of the television series The Beast while undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer, utilizing on-set medical aid to get through the demanding schedule. Other stars like Chadwick Boseman and Alan Rickman also kept their health battles private while completing major film projects for Marvel and other studios.
Analysis of over 2,000 film industry professionals indicates an “Oscar Effect” on longevity, with Academy Award winners living an average of 5.1 years longer than nominees, a statistical advantage often attributed to lower stress and the psychological benefits of peak professional success.
However, these figures do not change the reality for resilient performers who face aggressive illnesses while remaining dedicated to their craft.
What To Expect When ‘The Gates’ Open
The release of the film is currently scheduled for a limited theatrical run starting on March 13, 2026, though some industry reports have mentioned March 18 as a potential date. This rollout comes just over a month after the actor passed away from the complications of the disease he had been fighting for nearly three years.
Because the exact filming dates relative to his 2024 diagnosis have not been publicly confirmed, it remains unclear if he was undergoing active treatment while on the set of this specific horror thriller.
What is confirmed is that the film will serve as a significant part of his professional legacy, offering a dark, gritty finale to a career that spanned decades. Fans are expected to turn out for the limited release to pay their respects to a performer who grew up alongside them on television.
The transition from a teen idol to a respected character actor is a difficult path, but this final role seems to cement that evolution. By playing a man who uses faith and community as a weapon, Van Der Beek joined a tradition of actors who used their final moments on screen to take significant creative risks. The story of Jacob and the gated community will likely be analyzed not just for its scares, but for the circumstances under which it was made.