A Texas man granted his dying wish to see the new “Star Wars” film early before its December release has died, his wife confirmed Tuesday.
Daniel Fleetwood was 32.
He “put up an amazing fight to the very end. He is now one with God and with the force,” wrote wife Ashley on Facebook.
“Rest in peace my love.”
Diagnosed with spindle cell sarcoma in 2012, the rare cancer spread to Daniel’s lungs, covering 90 per cent of the surface area with tumours when they were tested earlier this month.
According to the Washington Post, Fleetwood was told by doctors on Sept. 2 he only had two months to live, a few months shy before the new film’s Dec. 18 release.
Dismayed her husband wouldn’t likely live long enough to see “The Force Awakens” — the latest in the “Star Wars” franchise — Ashley launched a campaign appealing to Disney, Bad Robot, and Lucasfilm to grant Daniel’s wish to see the new movie before cancer claimed his life.
“I just love ‘Star Wars,’ I mean with everything I got, I love ‘Star Wars,’” he told a Houston television station about his devotion to the franchise in an October interview.
Using the hashtag #ForceForDaniel, supporters rallied to bring momentum and media attention Daniel’s dying wish to see the new movie early.
It even attracted the likes of original "Stars Wars" actors Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) and Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia).
Then on Nov. 5, Daniel got his wish.
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” director J.J. Abrams had called the couple the day before to tell them they were going to see an unfinished cut of the film in their home.
Daniel died peacefully in his sleep only days later.
“While the cancer and situation is horrible, I feel a weight has been lifted for me by knowing he got his final wish,” Ashley wrote.
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