Thursday, November 5, 2015

The Terminally Ill Star Wars Fan Who Asked To See 'The Force Awakens' Early Just Got His Wish

By: Benjamin Hart

If you've been on the Internet at all over the past week or so you've probably heard about Daniel Fleetwood. Daniel is a life long Star Wars fan, and like everyone these days, he has been anxiously awaiting the release of Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens. Sadly, back in July Daniel was diagnosed with spindle cell sarcoma, which is a rare form of connective tissue cancer, and he was only given two months to live. Since then Daniel has been worried that he may not make it until December when The Force Awakens is released, which led him and his family to begin the "Force For Daniel" campaign. Using the hashtag #ForceForDaniel they reached out to Star Wars fans across the web to help gain the attention of the powers that be at Disney, Lucasfilm and Bad Robot. The campaign gained massive attention across the Internet, even gaining the support of The Force Awakens stars Mark Hamill, Peter Mayhew and John Boyega on Twitter.

Thankfully, just moments ago, Daniel's wife Ashley confirmed via Facebook that Director J.J. Abrams and his team has made Daniel's dream a reality. She wrote:

To all our wonderful supporters, friends, family and awesome strangers: Daniel's final dream was just granted!!! Today the wonderful Disney and Lucasfilms made his final dream come true, in the amazing typical Disney way, they really do make dreams come true! Daniel just finished watching an unedited version of Star Wars: The Force Awakens!!! We would like to thank the awesomely talented J.J. Abrams for calling us yesterday to tell us Daniel was getting his wish granted! We also would like to thank Lynne, Ben and Anahuac for coming to our home and screening the movie for Daniel. Lastly I want to thank ALL the amazing people who helped make this happen, thank you beyond words!!! May the force be with you all ‪#‎forcefordaniel‬ !!!!

This is what makes Star Wars, and especially Star Wars fans, so amazing. Hats off to J.J. Abrams and everyone behind the scenes who made this happen, and major kudos to fans around the world who came rallied around Daniel to help make this happen. Our hearts go out to the Fleetwood family during this extremely difficult time.

If you would like to lend more, much needed support to Daniel and his family, please visit his GoFundMe page!

Sources: CNN, Facebook
Photo courtesy of: The 501st Legion

Follow The Star Wars Underworld on Twitter @TheSWU for more updates about this story and other breaking Star Wars news.

45 comments:

  1. Brilliant, well done to everybody involved.

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  2. Doing it right: Your doing it right.

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  3. May the force be with you.

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  4. Ooh I wish he could confirm us if it's really better than the prequels just to be sure LOL

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  5. This was the will of the Force. Luv 2 Daniel. You got the dream dude. Crying tears of joy right now

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  6. Wasn't this the plot of Fanboys?

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    1. I think after like 5 years you dont need to annouce spoilers...if you havent seen it by now that's your own fault

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  7. Strong with this one.. the force is... Mad props to JJ, Disney, and Lucasfilms.

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  8. Cool! Though now, someone coerce this guy to tell us the entire movie!

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    1. No! I want to experience it on my own. I am hoping no one leaks anything.

      But, I found your comment impressive. ..most impressive.

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    2. I found the comment extremely idiotic

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    3. Fucking selfish imbecile. This was a selfless act for a dying man. And then there are people like you that come along and act like they're entitled to know about it, or get it for themselves. That's not how it works.

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  9. Got a big frog in my throat, and some tears in my eyes!! Star Wars for life!! #forcefordaniel

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  10. I just wish that by some miracle he can overcome his disease and live a normal,healthy life. very awesome to do this for him. I'm sure he was smiling the while time he got to see the film early!

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  11. Exciting is not the word I would use

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  12. I hope he gets to live long enough to see it again. :D It's great of JJ Abrams and the studio to allow this. I'm sad for Daniel that SW fandom will loose one of us, but I hope he at least got one great last movie night.

    May the force be with you Daniel

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  13. This is the best news I have read all day. May the force be with you, Daniel.

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  14. This just was released.... "After watching the Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens Daniel was Cured of sarcoma cancer."

    ...

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  15. May the force be with you. Great to hear

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  16. I am going to see star wars now cause of this. Good for them doing the right thing and I hope Daniel enjoy the movie and what more I hope Daniel not only makes it to see it again this dec but overcomes spindle cell sarcoma.

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  17. Really great!!! I am happy for Daniel!

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  18. Holding back the tears sat at my desk at work now, outstanding works everyone

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  19. Wow that's awesome! I hope it was everything you wanted it to be Daniel. Love you you and your family.

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  20. I am so glad Daniel got his wish. The two people I had planned to watch the new movie with (the person who introduced me to the Star Wars world and one to whom I introduced the Star Wars world) will be watching with me from heaven.....they both lost their cancer battles......so I am especially happy for Daniel.

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  21. May the force be with you, always...

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  22. big time feels. May the force be with him always.

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  23. I just read that this man passed away, so sad. May the force be with him

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  24. Watch "Daniel Fleetwood Tribute #ForceForDaniel" on YouTube
    https://youtu.be/tpJ3ZK3Kqbc

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