J.J. Abrams to Screen STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS for Terminal Cancer Patient

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J.J. Abrams Grants Terminal Cancer Patient's Dying Wish to See STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS Early

By Dave Trumbore

Published Dec 29, 2012

Director J.J. Abrams is reportedly screening STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS, or at least some footage from the sequel, for a terminal cancer patient.

Every once in a while we get to post a human interest story that is just barely related to movie news, like Ron Perlman dressing up as Hellboy for a Make-a-Wish patient or President Barack Obama reacting to a pint-sized Spider-Man's web. Â Now director J.J. Abrams has reportedly answered the dying wishes of a terminal cancer patient by arranging a screening ofÂ Star Trek Into DarknessÂ well ahead of its planned debut of May 17, 2013. Â While it seems like a small request from an obvious fan whose time on this Earth is being cut short, it's even more impressive considering how famously secretive Abrams is concerning his projects. Â It's refreshing to see that he's got his priorities straight in this case. Â Hit the jump for more.This story was first brought to our attention by Grady Hendrix on reddit. Â Hendrix, a friend of the patient in question, is also a writer and founder of the New York Asian Film Festival. Â Here's what Hendrix posted:

I just wanted to say that I know and work with Dan (the guy who's dying) but I don't know the OP. Dan's been running the New York Asian Film Festival with me and a few other guys for years. If you have any doubts about the legitimacy of all of this, I use my actual name as my Reddit name, and you can visit the NYAFF (New York Asian Film Festival) page on Facebook. If you still have doubts that are keeping you from helping, feel free to email me:grady@gradyhendrix.com

Followed by:

Thanks everyone, and a huge thanks to OP ideeyut for posting this. JJ Abrams just called Dan's wife and left a message. He's going to try to arrange a screening for Dan, either of the film or at least of the 9 minute promo reel...I'll never say anything bad about JJ Abrams again. Seriously. He is now beyond reproach as far as I'm concerned.

While I'mÂ really hoping that Abrams manages to screen the whole film for the guy, it's respectable that he responded at all. Â It would have been far easier for him to ignore the story or chalk it up to a hoax. Â It's nice to be reminded that Hollywood types still have hearts, even if this story is destined to have a bittersweet ending.