Terminally Ill ‘Star Wars’ Fan Gets Dying Wish to See ‘Force Awakens’ Before Release

Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm
Kelli Serio

The Force has been awakened for a terminally ill Star Wars fan whose last dying wish was granted this week by Disney.

Star Wars super-fan Daniel Fleetwood, a 32-year-old Houston, Texas resident, suffers from a rare form of cancer and was told by doctors in July he only had two months to live.

Daniel’s wife, Ashley, feared her husband wouldn’t make it to the Dec. 18 release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and started an online campaign last month, using the hashtag #ForceForDaniel.

 

The campaign went viral as fellow fans and even Star Wars actors shared Daniel’s request to view the sequel before he succumbed to his disease.

Ashely announced on her Facebook page Thursday that her husband’s final wish had come true after speaking with Star Wars director J.J. Abrams the night before.

“Daniel’s final dream was just granted!!!” Ashley wrote, via Yahoo. “Today the wonderful Disney and Lucasfilm made his final dream come true, in the amazing typical Disney way, they really do make dreams come true!”

“Lastly I want to thank ALL the amazing people who helped make this happen, thank you beyond words!!!” she continued.
“May the force be with you all.”

Mark Hamill, one of the franchise’s original stars, and two new franchise stars, John Boyega and Daisy Ridley, helped boost the campaign via their social media pages.

“This one’s for you Daniel Fleetwood!!! We will all do what we can to make your wish come true. #forcefordaniel,” Ridley wrote on her Instagram page.

Hamill responded to the news of Daniel’s early screening, writing on Twitter: “I just read this and am elated for Daniel & his family! Thanks to the powers-that-be for making his dream come true.”

 

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is set for release on Dec. 18.

Watch the latest trailer below.

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