Sad news today, as Daniel Fleetwood — the terminally ill Star Wars fan for whom J.J. Abrams screened an early cut of Star Wars: The Force Awakens just last week — has passed away at age 32 from spindle cell sarcoma. Fleetwood’s wife, Ashley, confirmed the news on Facebook, saying Daniel passed away in his sleep at home after putting up an amazing fight.
The campaign to help Fleetwood see the movie was helped greatly by Mark Hamill, and he was also supported by Carrie Fisher, John Boyega, and Daisy Ridley. Last week, Disney flew J.J. Abrams to the Fleetwood home for a private screening. Abrams previously screened Star Trek Into Darkness for another terminally ill fan, so all of us pulling for Fleetwood’s wish to be granted were hoping Abrams would repeat a good deed.
I don’t have anything poignant to say about this unfortunate news, nor do I have any jokes to offer. Would it be wrong for me to photoshop him as a glowing Jedi standing next to Obi-Wan? That would be rude, right? I’ve been on the internet too long and don’t understand manners any more. Perhaps we’ll just offer Ashley and the rest of Daniel’s family and friends our condolences instead.
(Via The Wrap)
