December's release of the new "Star Wars" movie may not seem far, far away. But for a Houston-area man with a rare form of cancer, a month could've been too long.
"Judging by how progressive the disease has gotten in the past two months, I really don't think that I'll be able to make it," Fleetwood told a reporter for KPRC.
The hashtag #ForceforDaniel exploded on social media, as people rallied behind Daniel Fleetwood urging Walt Disney Studios to grant his dying wish — to see "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" before its official release. According to a Facebook post from Fleetwood's wife, that wish was granted Saturday: she wrote "in the amazing typical Disney way, they really do make dreams come true!"
J.J. Abrams played a part too. Fleetwood's wife says the director called himself to deliver the news of the viewing.
Some big names retweeted posts supporting Fleetwood, including John Boyega, who plays Finn, and Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill.
A request like this isn't unprecedented. When Disney and Pixar's "Up" came out in 2009, a California girl with cancer couldn't make it to the theater, so Pixar sent a copy to her home.
As for Fleetwood, he's living months past when his doctor told him he would. He says it's because of "Star Wars," but as you heard, he doesn't think he has much longer. According to the Facebook post, Fleetwood viewed the new "Star Wars" from the comfort of his living room.
This video includes images from Getty Images.
