Advertisement

J.J. Abrams grants Trekkie’s dying wish to see ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’

J.J. Abrams, center, on the set of 2009's 'Star Trek'
J.J. Abrams, center, on the set of 2009's 'Star Trek'

What started out as one post on the behalf of a beloved friend turned into a full-blown Internet campaign that resulted in a call from J.J. Abrams himself and a very special screening of his upcoming film.

Both a heart-wrenching and uplifting story, Abrams called the wife of a terminally ill man to confirm that he could set up a private screening of his forthcoming "Star Trek: Into Darkness."

The man identified as Dan has been diagnosed with two forms of cancer in the past three years resulting in more than ten hospital visits and other related health problems, according to a post by his presumed friend who goes by the username ideeyut on Reddit.

Dan is a huge Trekkie and overall movie buff according to his friend, and was disappointed when the much buzzed-about nine-minute "Into Darkness" preview didn't play ahead of an IMAX screening of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey." Soon after, sadly, doctors gave Dan just weeks to live.

That's when his friend sprang into action.

[Related: The 25 most anticipated movies of 2013]

After ideeyut's post went up on Reddit, invested readers took to Twitter and Facebook. Some blogs picked up the story and just a few days later Abrams responded.

Dan and his wife have now seen a yet-to-be-finished version of "Into Darkness" and have responded via their friend's Reddit profile: "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."

She went on to thank Abrams and the Internet community for bringing this "heartwarming gift" into Dan's life, also noting, "...We were so touched when [Abrams] was concerned that we wouldn't 100% enjoy the screening as it's still being worked on....... Be assured we enjoyed it 110%!"

"Star Trek Into Darkness" opens May 17, 2013.

Watch 'Star Trek Into Darkness' Teaser Trailer:

Follow me on Twitter (@meriahonfiah)