Terminally ill 'Star Wars' fan sees 'The Force Awakens' early

Kelly Lawler | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption 'Star Wars' director grants dying fan's wish to see 'The Force Awakens' early A terminally ill star Wars fan's dying wish to see the new Star Wars movie is granted. Jen Markham (@jenmarkham) has the story.

A Star Wars fan who has been given just a few months to live was able to see an unfinished version of Star Wars: The Force Awakens this week, almost two months before the rest of the world.

Daniel Fleetwood, a 31-year-old Texas man who has an aggressive form of cancer that has spread to 90% of his lungs, was granted his wish to see the new Star Wars film Thursday, his wife Ashley announced on her Facebook.

"Daniels final dream was just granted!!! Today the wonderful Disney, Bad Robot and Lucasfilm teams made his final dream come true, Daniel just finished watching an unfinished version of Star Wars: The Force Awakens!!! We would like to thank the awesomely talented JJ Abrams for calling us yesterday to tell us Daniel was getting his wish granted! Lastly I want to thank ALL the amazing people who helped make this happen!!! May the force be with you all."

Fleetwood's wish to see the film before he died went viral this week as the hashtag #ForceForDaniel spread around the world. Star Wars stars John Boyega, Peter Mayhew and Mark Hamill even helped support the cause. After he discovered Fleetwood had seen the film, Hamill tweeted:

I just read this and am elated for Daniel & his family! Thanks to the powers-that-be for making his dream come true. https://t.co/ImiAdyBxf8 — Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) November 5, 2015

Fleetwood and his wife have documented his illness on social media. In September he was told by his doctors that he had just one or two months to live, due to how fast his cancer had spread.

His lungs are now 90% full of tumors. Time is running out. Please @DisneyFR #ForceForDaniel pic.twitter.com/fgUJRy5dvt — Ashley Fleetwood (@pandorashley) November 2, 2015

"If I got to see the movie, I might actually die from happiness," Fleetwood told People earlier this week. "Growing up, I would watch the movies over and over and analyze every little detail. I hope I get to see what happens."