Advertisement

Terminally-ill Star Wars fan dies 5 days after private screening

Star Wars super fan Daniel Fleetwood has passed away, only five days after his dying wish to see the not-yet-released Star Wars film was granted.

Fleetwood’s wife, Ashley, posted the news on her Facebook page early Tuesday morning, saying he “put up an amazing fight to the very end.”

“He is now one with God and with the force,” she writes.

A screengrab of Ashley Fleetwood’s post.
A screengrab of Ashley Fleetwood’s post. Facebook / Global News

The Texas native was battling a rare and aggressive cancer called spindle cell sarcoma for the past two years. He made headlines last week when he had a private screening of Star Wars: The Force Awakens after he was told he only had two months to live.

Story continues below advertisement

The private screening was made possible after a social media campaign, #Forcefordaniel, caught the attention of Star Wars actor Mark Hamill, who re-tweeted messages of support and thanks for Daniel.

Since the screening, Daniel also had a visit from the Star Garrison, a Texas-based division of the official worldwide Star Wars fan club. The group came fully dressed up as members of the Empire to induct Daniel as an honourary member on Nov. 7.

This isn’t the first time Abrams has given a fan on their deathbed a sneak peek of a film; in 2013 a New York man, Daniel Craft, saw a rough version of Star Trek Into Darkness months before it was in theatres. Craft died just days after seeing the film.

Story continues below advertisement

With files from Global’s Tania Kohut.

Sponsored content

AdChoices