Terminally ill 'Star Wars' fan receives wish to see 'The Force Awakens' early

SPRING, Texas, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Terminally ill Star Wars fan Daniel Fleetwood has been allowed to watch an early version of Star Wars: The Force Awakens before he dies.

Fleetwood, 32, was diagnosed with spindle cell sarcoma, a rare connective tissue cancer and was told by his oncologist that he had two months to live, his wife Ashley Fleetwood confirmed to NBC News.

A diehard fan, Daniel wasn't confident that he could make it to the film's Dec. 18 release date, despite exceeding doctors expectations. It was then that Ashley started a social media campaign using the hashtag #forcefordaniel in an attempt to make his dying wish come true.

The campaign caught the attention of some of the film's stars, including Luke Skywalker himself Mark Hamill, Peter Mayhew who plays Chewbacca and series newcomer John Boyega, who voiced their support for Daniel online.

Then on Thursday, Ashley posted on her Facebook page that her husband's wish had come true and that director J.J. Abrams had personally called the couple Wednesday to set up the screening. "To all our wonderful supporters, friends, family and awesome strangers: Daniels final dream was just granted!!!," Ashley wrote. "May the force be with you all!"

Hamill also expressed his happiness for Daniel on Twitter writing "I just read this and am elated for Daniel & his family! Thanks to the powers-that-be for making his dream come true."

This isn't the first time Abrams has been able to grant a fan's dying wish. As Variety reports, the director screened Star Trek Into Darkness before it was released for fan Daniel Craft. Craft died just days later.