Throughout the lead up to the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens it was repeatedly noted, and rightfully so, that Disney and director J.J. Abrams made a touching decision to screen the film prior to the general public for terminally ill fans who would possibly unfortunately pass away by the time the monumentally anticipated next entry in the saga would be released to theaters.
This week, Abrams spoke to LAGoss regarding the decision (specifically referencing Daniel Fleetwood) and what it meant to him, saying: “He was one of a number of people who were tragically not going to live to see the release of the movie. It was very important to us that those who were reaching out to us, as much as we could – and we couldn’t get everyone of course – got a chance to see the movie even though it was unfinished. So there were a couple of people from the editorial department that we sent throughout the country to go to the homes of the people who were ill to show them the movie. Some were children, and some were adults, and I spoke with almost all of them before and after they saw the movie. And it was incredibly meaningful to all of us working on the movie that it meant so much to other people at a point where they were literally in their last weeks and even days, that that’s what the cared about. So it was a great reminder, and very humbling, and of course I hated that they passed away, but it was meaningful to all of us that we could do something to help them.”
SEE ALSO: J.J. Abrams talks Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and the Han Solo movie
Star Wars: The Force Awakens sees J.J. Abrams directing returning stars Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Kenny Baker (R2-D2), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) and Tim Rose (Admiral Ackbar), in addition to John Boyega (Attack the Block), Daisy Ridley (Silent Witness), Adam Driver (Girls), Oscar Isaac (A Most Violent Year), Andy Serkis (Avengers: Age of Ultron), Domhnall Gleeson (Ex Machina), Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones), Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave), Ken Leung (Lost), Max von Sydow (The Exorcist) and Simon Pegg (Star Trek).
Originally published February 27, 2017. Updated April 15, 2018.
