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Dying Star Wars fan gets his wish

<p>December's release of the new <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGbxmsDFVnE" target="_blank">"Star Wars" movie</a> 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.</p><p>"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 <a href="http://www.click2houston.com/news/local-terminal-cancer-patients-dying-star-wars-wish-goes-viral/36136054" target="_blank">reporter for KPRC</a>.</p><p>The hashtag <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23forcefordaniel&src=typd" target="_blank">#ForceforDaniel</a> 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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ashleycohagan" target="_blank">Facebook post</a> from Fleetwood's wife, that wish was granted Saturday: she wrote "in the amazing typical Disney way, they really do make dreams come true!"</p><p>J.J. Abrams played a part too. Fleetwood's wife says the director called himself to deliver the news of the viewing.</p><p>Some big names retweeted <a href="https://twitter.com/TheNerdFu/status/660105675578589185" target="_blank">posts supporting Fleetwood</a>, including John Boyega, who plays Finn, and Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill.</p><p>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 <a href="http://www.ocregister.com/articles/pixar-128978-up-movie.html" target="_blank">Pixar sent a copy to her home</a>.</p><p>As for Fleetwood, he's living months past when his doctor told him he would. <a href="http://www.click2houston.com/news/local-terminal-cancer-patients-dying-star-wars-wish-goes-viral/36136054" target="_blank">He says it's because of "Star Wars,"</a> 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. </p><p><i>This video includes images from Getty Images.</i></p>
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A social media push to allow a terminally ill Star Wars fan's wish to view the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens came to fruition on Thursday, when Disney delivered a copy of the movie to Daniel Fleetwood.

Fleetwood, a 32-year-old lifelong Star Wars fan, has been suffering from spindle-cell-carcinoma for three years. In September, Fleetwood's doctors gave him two months to live, but he held out hope that he would be able to see the newest Star Wars film when it is released in December.

"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.

After his story made headlines, the hashtag #ForceForDaniel began trending on social media. Even Mark Hamill, who plays Luke Skywalker in the series, showed his support with a retweet.

It seems the hashtag caught the eye of Disney officials. On Thursday, Daniel's wife posted a message on Facebook, saying that his final wish had come true.

"Daniel just finished watching an unedited version of Star Wars: The Force Awakens!!! We would like to thank the awesomely talented JJ Abrams for calling us yesterday to tell us Danjel [sic] was getting his wish granted!" she said.

To all our wonderful supporters, friends, family and awesome strangers: Daniels final dream was just granted!!! Today...

Posted by Ashley Fleetwood on Thursday, November 5, 2015

The film makes its premiere on Dec. 18.

Alex Hider is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @alexhider.