Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger has granted a dying ‘Star Wars’ fan’s last wish– to see ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’. Iger responded to a request on the patient’s behalf made by Rowans Hospice in Hampshire, England, which read:
“On this Thanksgiving, we at @Disney are grateful to be able to share #TheRiseOfSkywalker with a patient and his family @RowansHospice. May the force be with you and with us all!”
The request was made on Thanksgiving Day (which, I didn’t realize they celebrated in England) and the very next day, a Disney employee named Jonathan turned up with a laptop, to grant this patient’s last wish.
This morning, a very nice man named Jonathan from Disney turned up at our Hospice with a laptop that had a very important movie on it. Our amazing patient has now seen #StarWars #RiseofSkywalker with his son 💚
Full statement here:https://t.co/6KWl8jQHj1 pic.twitter.com/gfgxRXPeoe
— Rowans Hospice (@RowansHospice) November 29, 2019
The patent, who wishes to remain anonymous, released this statement in response:
“I just want to say the biggest thank you to everyone that has helped to make this happen. During what is just a horrible situation to be in, you have helped to make some wonderful memories and bring some joy to my family. I am a huge Star Wars fan and what I am going through is completely dire. Then to top it all, I thought I wasn’t going to see the film I have been waiting to see since 1977! I still can’t believe it. The only way I can describe this to you is to say that this must be what it feels like to be told you have won a million pounds!”
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His wife followed that up by saying:
“We are truly humbled by everyone’s support. What has happened over the past few days has been truly mind-blowing. From a simple conversation, to witnessing the outpouring of generosity has been amazing. The massive Star Wars community has been incredible. The amazing people who have visited, along with the messages and gifts we have received have provided us with an opportunity to talk to our son more about the reality of his Dad’s condition.”
On Wednesday we threw a Star Wars themed party for the patient and his family. We were joined by Stormtroopers, wookies and droids and a brilliant time was had by all pic.twitter.com/SDAoUDIsXq
— Rowans Hospice (@RowansHospice) November 29, 2019
Earlier this year, Disney arranged a special showing of ‘Avengers: Endgame’ for another terminally ill patient, who was not expected to live until the film’s release.
The 2009 indie comedy ‘Fanboys’ directed by Kyle Newman, with Jay Baruchel, Dan Fogler, Sam Huntington, Chris Marquette, and Kristen Bell centered on a group of friends who, in 1998, planned to break into Skywalker Ranch to view ‘Star Wars: The Phantom Menace’ before one of them, Linus (Marquette) dies of cancer. In the movie, he gets his wish, after they are caught during their mission.
But ‘Fanboys’ always made me feel weird in that, it’s hard to imagine a lifelong ‘Star Wars’ fan getting his dying wish and seeing ‘The Phantom Menace’ and being at all happy with it. It just seems that would be so disappointing!
Hopefully, this patient was happier with ‘The Rise of Skywalker’!
For the rest of us, ‘The Rise of Skywalker’ opens on December 20.
Source: Deadline
