Update On Dying Fan’s Private Star Trek Into Darkness Screening + Statement From Family

On Friday TrekMovie reported a story about how Paramount, Bad Robot and director JJ Abrams were going to grant a dying fan’s wish to see an early preview of Star Trek Into Darkness. That private screening has now taken place and TrekMovie has been sent a statement from the family about the event and giving thanks to the internet fan community for helping to make it happen. See below for more details 

 

Wife: Preview of Star Trek Into Darkness was a ‘wonderful thing’ for dying fan

On Friday TrekMovie reported about a 41-year-old New York Star Trek fan named Daniel who has been given less than two months to live and was having trouble getting to see the nine minute preview of Star Trek Into Darkness. After a family friend made a posting about his plight on Reddit on Christmas Day, word got to Paramount, Bad Robot and director JJ Abrams himself. This resulted in arranging a private screening of a rough cut of Into Darkness, which happened on Sunday.

While Paramount and Bad Robot are still not making any public comments regarding this, tonight Daniel’s wife sent myself and a couple of other journalists the following statement from the family, thanking the internet community for their support:

Hi everyone, it’s Daniel’s wife, we are of course sworn to secrecy, BUT we are officially allowed to say we saw it and we enjoyed it IMMENSELY as a film and as a gesture…However; Daniel ‘hates’ being an ‘inspiring cancer story’ we his friends and loved ones would prefer for the update to have more of a heartfelt message of giving, especially during this season:

This is a story of us giving something to him, the ‘internet’ community giving something to him and ultimately being a heartwarming gift to our friends, family and so many others. This story of us (and of course JJ Abrams & Bad Robot) being able to give this surprise gift of a screening to a huge movie buff like Daniel, especially a film made by a film maker who obviously makes movies with such care, with a fan like Daniel in mind (and a person like me who knows slightly less about these things). Also, it was truly amazing that a film-maker so secretive as JJ Abrams was kind enough to show this to us.

It is also so wonderful for his friends & his family to finally hear some good news from us, They know how important film is to Daniel & could not think of a better way to please to him. So this gesture really has brought a lot of smiles all around.

It was a wonderful thing to see with Daniel and a wonderful thing to see Daniel enjoy – Making someone as ill as he is smile for any length of time really makes a difference. (At this point making me smile is good too)

This is also so poignant as JJ Abrams took so much care in the first Star Trek movie to at least TRY to get everything ‘right’ for the fans and we were so touched when he was concerned that we wouldn’t 100% enjoy the screening as it’s still being worked on…….Be assured we enjoyed it 110%! We are so grateful thank you, thank you, thank you…..

Once again on behalf of everyone at TrekMovie.com our thoughts and prayers are with Daniel and his family And again we express our admiration to the people at Paramount, Bad Robot and specifically to JJ Abrams for making this happen. It may sound corny but this kind of thing is part of what Star Trek is all about. Hope and family in the face of adversity. I believe that Gene Roddenberry, The Great Bird of the Galaxy, would be proud.

 

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Beautiful. :-)

Wonderful to hear!

:-)

I am very moved by the message from Daniel’s wife and thank her for letting us know a little of the lives of her family.

May they enjoy much peace, grace, and serenity.

Amazing how caring and thoughtful of everyone who made this happen. These are great friends of mine and so deserving of your kindness.
Miss you Daniel & Paige, our thoughts and prayers are with you always!

A great story.

Wow, I am having difficulty typing. My hands are shaking from the incredible news.
Nice story, Anthony. That’s why I come here. Because true Star Trek Fans are the greatest people in the world, and I am very lucky to be able to come here and express my opinion, and catch the latest news. Thanks JJ, and co. you guys have really got my respect.

YES….caring (and obviously listening) for your fellow man is step in the
right direction. If the leaders genuinely cared and listened to the pleas of
our neighbors – etc…wouldn’t be all the benaficories of it all? Fine message!

who cares how good this movie turns out to be and how well it does at the box office it has already earned 4 stars in my book and 2 thumbs way straight up because I have a mother who is dying of cancer and i know what it means to grant a dying persons last request and this whole company and all involved deserve a standing ovation…..thank goodness for star trek and thanks to all involved!!!

Awesome and moving… Thank you.

the human adventure truly is just beginning

and guess what? i just may go see this movie a couple dozen times MORE just to support this awesome achievement and show MY support to a group of people who obviously CARE about OTHERS….thanks again JJ Abrams, Bad Robot AND Paramount…and my best to the dear family and my prayers and hopes go out to them and Daniel. Happy New Year all!!!!

:)

Great story! Great to see some goodness in a world where such a thing seems to be in such short supply.

This is absolutely awesome. What a great story all around.

Simply awesome

This update made me cry.
Two years ago when I had my cancer surgery, a thousand things went through my mind. I thought about my wife and my family and the way I had lived my life and all the things I loved.
Being face to face with mortality is heavy, and one needs a distraction or two in order to cope.
Thanks to JJ and everyone at Bad Robot who made this happen.

To Daniel, your wife and family,
I send you all my heartfelt best wishes. I know how hard this is. I lost my mother to cancer in 1999 when she was only 59 and I have recently battled cancer myself and am lucky enough to have survived. But the stress was intense on me, my wife and my whole family. Don’t let it get you down!
Stay strong and love every minute of this wonderful gift of life. Remember to tell the people who you care about that you love them.
Good Luck in your fight.

Good Job Bad Robot.

I do believe that Mr. Abrams just became my favorite living filmmaker.

Thanks for the update, AP.

A W E S O M E ! ! !

Very AWESOME, They are giving Star Trek such a good name!

This is wonderful news, and I can only wish Daniel my best going forward as a fellow New York-based Trekker. Get well.

‘Star Trek,’ at its best, tends to risk razor-close contact with its fanbase, and it is pleasing to see that JJ and the team are not changing that, to the point of altering the ‘rules’ for one fan in need.

Wooow Good :)…hey anthony TrekMovie can cover up the news of the death of Gerry Anderson, creator of ‘Thunderirds’,’Ufo’ and ‘Space 1999’…. if you please.

Thanks

Love you Gerry Anderson,thanks for your talent and creativity in the service of television’m the generation that grew up and enjoy their work.

What a wonderful gift and a beautiful story!

Beautiful story; shame that our political leaders are unable to display the same amount of compassion to others.

Best wishes to everyone for a happy and peaceful 2013

This is a really moving story and I’m so glad this could happen. Tears in my eyes reading about this. My thoughts and prayers go out to Daniel and his family and respect to JJ for making it happen. All best wishes to all concerned and everyone else for 2013.

Wow! With all the s*&t in the world at the moment, this made me feel so human. Thanks JJ for helping this gent and for going someway to restoring my faith in humanity!

Kudos again to jj and all involved n anthony too….glad the family enjoyed the preview….makes me think of british naval dude and captain dave…..as carl sagan said we are all made of star stuff….we will all be returning to that star stuff someday….try to love and enjoy what life u have everyday….and the beatles were right…all u need is love….thanx for the love n giving jj…we owe ya…

A magnificent gesture.

Thank you, Mr. Abrams.

While random acts of kindness are nice, deliberate acts of kindness are even better.

Incredibly moving story… Thanks JJ and BadRobot for caring so much about the fans… This is what made Star Trek special back in the old days…and JJ got it right. ..

I don’t think bringing up religion is a good idea here boys. Leads to bad discussions and flame wars. Lighten up, its a movie.

Excuse me I have something in my eye.

I’ve said it with joy. I’ve said it solemnly. I’ve even said it facetiously. But now with prideful conviction I say again-

Start Trek! The gift that keeps giving!

:-)

classy
love it

J.j. you just earned your pay for the week. Well done.

Rarely do you hear of these kinds of stories. The world has been in such a turmoil, but to hear that any filmmaker or studio would go so far as to allow a person to see a rough cut of a movie as a gesture of kindness is amazing. It goes to show how much we as humans can have the capacity for compassion.

JJ, Bad Robot, Paramount, CBS, and everyone involved in Star Trek Into Darkness, you have given us the gift of hope and kindness.

Daniel and family, my thoughts go out to you, as I wish the cancer were not terminal, but I am glad to see that you were given this gift. May whatever time you have left grant you mercy and joy.

So proud of JJ et al. for doing this. You, sir, are a class act.

Daniel, I am sending supporting thoughts to you and your family at this difficult time.

Wow! That is just an awesome message. Our hearts are with you and your family Daniel. Thanks JJ & Co.

My thoughts with you…

My thoughts also go out to Daniel, his family and friends. (and well done, JJ and all)

Godspeed, Daniel. For a ‘Bad Robot,’ you did good.

Classy…very classy

Get better, Daniel!

I know you will you sly devil!

Truly FAN-tastic! Thanks to JJ and Company for giving this gift to Daniel. So touching and I will definitely be supporting this film.

J.J and Bob Orci and the Court. You Guy’s Rock!!!. What you did for that Family is such a wonderful thing. I truly wish Daniiel and his Family all the best and hope that you all Live Long and Prosper.

I’m not one of JJ’s biggest fans, but this is a wonderful gesture that I’m sure means so much to “Daniel.” If I were on my deathbed, there would nothing more that I would want to do than see an unreleased ST movie (other than be with my wife and kids, of course). Great story!

Pretty darn cool if I do say so myself.

Bad Robot helped Daniel beat his Kobyashi Maru (no win scenario) via compassion.

Thanks for this renewal in hope for our little race.

Daniel & family, our thoughts & hopes are with you!

This is wonderful. Thank you for sharing!