Disney has granted a dying "Stars Wars" fan's wish to watch the new movie in the franchise, "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," with his young son ahead of its release date, after responding to an appeal from the hospice where he is being treated.
Rowans Hospice in Hampshire, England, to make the plea on behalf of one of its patients, saying "time is not on his side" for mid-December, when the movie is scheduled to be released in the U.K.
The appeal met with strong support on social media, with the likes of Mark Hamill -- Luke Skywalker himself -- .
Bob Iger, Disney's Chairman and CEO, that the company would allow the patient a preview: "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!"
, Lisa Davies, the health care support worker who passed the patient's wish on to other staff members, said she was "utterly speechless."
Thanking Disney for its help, she said: "We totally appreciate that they have had to move mountains to make this happen!"
"Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," which is due to be released on December 19 in the U.K. and December 20 in the U.S., will be the final installment of the nine-part saga.
