#RogueOneWish Granted – Fan With Terminal Disease Got to See Rogue One Early.
Like Daniel Fleetwood, the family of the terminally-ill fan Neil Hanvey organized a successful social media campaign to let him see a Star Wars movie early. Sadly, he is no longer with us, as he passed one day after he saw Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (or at least an early cut, or scenes from the movie).
Neil Hanvey was sent to Saint Michael’s Hospice in Hereford, UK in April of this year after he had learned that he only had months to live. Hanvey’s wife, Andrew, got to working with hospice assistant Amy Duncan when they learned that his last wish was to live long enough to see Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Thus began the #RogueOneWish campaign, which spread through social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook to get the attention of Disney.
The good news is that Neil Hanvey got to see the movie a few days ago:
On behalf of Neil Hanvey, his wife Andrea and all his family, we want to thank everyone who supported the #RogueOneWish campaign. The director of Rogue One, Gareth Edwards did all he could to make Saturday a very special day for Neil. Neil, his family and everyone at St Michael’s Hospice would like to say thank you to Disney, Lucasfilm and especially Gareth Edwards.
However, he passed on shortly after seeing footage from the film:
A message from Neil Hanvey’s wife, Andrea. ‘On behalf of all our family we would like to thank everyone who has passed on their condolences following Neil’s death last night. We would also like to thank the tens of thousands of people who supported the #RogueOneWish campaign. All the messages of love during the past week have given us a great deal of comfort during a very difficult time. We would also like to thank everyone at St Michael’s Hospice, especially Amy Duncan, without who #RogueOneWish would not have happened. All donations at Neil’s funeral will go to the Hospice’s Family Support team and will be used to fund work with children and young people. An online donation page will be set-up shortly.’
#RogueOneWish was supported by many Star Wars fans – with a few notable examples of good will including Mark Hamill retweeting a prominent Twitter message (vastly spreading the outreach of the campaign), colleagues of the Hanvey family promoting the campaign while wearing Stormtrooper masks, and a choir coming up to his room to sing the Star Wars theme.
Campaign launched for terminally ill Star Wars fan to see Rogue One early https://t.co/ixWU6966nZ via @MetroUK @HamillHimself #rogueonewish
— TerraVized (@Terravized) August 18, 2016
#RogueOnewish Neil’s brilliant colleagues at @allpay_payments took this amazing photo to promote his campaign! WOW.. pic.twitter.com/EaXPKE88ts
— St Michael’s Hospice (@StMichaelsHosp) August 18, 2016
While his life was tragically cut short by illness, we should at least be happy that Neil Hanvey got his dying wish. May he rest in peace. Our condolences go to his loved ones.
Grant has been a fan of Star Wars for as long as he can remember, having seen every movie on the big screen. When he’s not hard at work with his college studies, he keeps himself busy by reporting on all kinds of Star Wars news for SWNN and general movie news on the sister site, Movie News Net. He served as a frequent commentator on SWNN’s The Resistance Broadcast.
MTFBWY
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Wow. That was fast. So glad he got his wish fulfilled. From the original story that was just posted a few days ago you got the impression he still had a few months left, when in reality he only had a few days. So sad. R.I.P. and May the Force be With You.
This is becoming a strange tradition. It is also remarkable that BOTH of the fans that got their wish to see the upcoming movie passed on so quickly afterwards. At least no one can accuse them of simulating so that they would get to see a movie early.
But it will ultimately become problematic for the studios if all fans who can claim to have a serious condition will begin to feel that they have some kind of “right” to a sneak preview.
There are medical documents how much the critical the condition can be.
They vet the legitamacy before they show them the film.
I think it depends how hard their friends and relatives campaign. I’m sure there are many who would’ve liked the chance but didn’t get it due to lack of publicity. I don’t think it’ll become an issue unless Disney are expected to send executives out to 50+ homes with a copy of the latest movie.
Good moves by the studio. I however find it hard to believe that there was only 1 terminally ill fan who’s dying wish was to see TFA, just like I find it hard to believe that there was only 1 terminally ill fan who’s final wish was to see R1. Seems to me whoever makes the loudest noise on social media get’s their dream.
Welcome to the world.
Oh, please not that cynicism.
That’s reality; plenty of people are deserving of things like that, but those who make the biggest show and get the most support win out. Nothing wrong with admitting the truth. And no reason to hold ill will against this person. I am glad he got to experience it before his passing.
Yeah I don’t think you’re insulting anyone. It’s the way of things. I remember reading that TFA was shown to quite a few dying fans. I’m sure Disney and whomever try very hard to reach all that they can… but there are so many. Some will fall through the cracks.
Yep. It’s just how it is.
Didn’t stop me getting absolutely slaughtered on here when I said that the Daniel Fleetwood campaign would start a trend.
People are rarely nice or nuanced online.
But you are. And others as well.
I try to be. I never mean to come off as snarky, but sometimes the opinions you see expressed around are…interesting.
Yeah…
Good for you Daniel Fleetwood died, left his wife a widow and paid for the bad trend you predicted he would start.
Wow, what a pathetic comment. Having recognised that it started a trend does not mean that I revel in the deaths of cancer sufferers.
This is exactly the kind of stupid remark I was referring to.
If you think they got a privilege unfairly, to your comfort, they died young, So, there was “punishment”. You can feel at peace now.
I don’t recall saying anything like that at all and I don’t see how you can construe that from what I said. I merely said there were others equally deserving of such a privilege and they might not get it simply because of lack of social media prowess.
I am not blaming anyone or saying anyone got something they didn’t deserve. I don’t get offended easily, but your thinking I said that has honestly made me angry. I hope I made myself clear here. I will be awaiting your apology. Then I will feel at peace.
I didn’t say I held Ill against this person, I too supported his cause, but sometimes there are fans as well that may not had the strength to tell it now, maybe because they think they could watched in a form of afterlife.
I know you didn’t say that. Others might or think I was saying I did. Hence, the caveat.
Well, those people DIED. There you go. The punishment for their greedy “scam” was delivered.
He said nothing about a “scam” which you put in quotes, implying those were his exact words. Your comments to me and to others on this thread are hostile and seem to lack reading comprehension. I think it’s best if I block you. You contribute nothing worthwhile.
Well, you are criticising dying people who got they last wish and departed. Therefore, I too think you are hostile. And not knowing what quotes mean in that context is also a lack of reading comprehension. Blocking me is the best you can do, I suppose.
What a weird thing to be worried about…
I wish fans can have this much influence in getting Disney to make an Old Republic film.
With that said, I am so glad this guy has his wish granted.
LFL, not Disney. And that’s not likely since TOR is not canon in the way it is portrayed.
Also, I want no part of fans having a say in what gets made. I want to see what I can’t imagine, not what the internet wants.
Careful, being critical about these things in any way isn’t really appreciated around these parts. I mentioned this last year (albeit in a more blunt and less tactful manner) and it turned into a “thing”. 😐
A good reason to love the new crew, they’ll make sure the wishes of dying people come true.
This is really sad but I’m glad they listened to the campaigning and gave Neil his last wish. Not to be insensitive what so ever, but it makes you wonder if there is a slight (if at all) connection to making peace with your condition. Not that two people passing quickly after they had their last wishes granted, deems any pattern. Ive heard and read all kinds of stories where terminally ill people fought and hung on long until some specific thing they wanted, and passed quickly after. Three different members of my family in point. Every single one wanted to see one more Christmas. Two passed away a week or so after Christmas, and my uncle died the day after. Anyways, may the force be with you Neil.
It’s true that some people seem to be “hanging on” just to have some kind of experience. Apparently more people than usual died immediately after the turn of the millennium, presumably because some were clinging to an idea that “I want to see the year 2000”. In Japan, it has been statistically shown that fewer old people die just before certain festivals where the elders are especially honored.
So yes, dying people can definitely “hang on” and then “let go” when they have had what they wanted.
I think it’s 100% accurate. I’ve heard of many people who die the same day or within a week or month of their husband/wife. Sometimes, the only thing keeping people alive is their will to live.
If the person gets peace and closure, for whatever reason, it is worth it.
Fuck cancer
How do they get to see it? Is it like a disc copy sent to them or a video file? I don’t get it
neither. it is treated like gold. there were probably studio reps that brought a disc and it was likely that he and his wife were the only others in the room. the reps started the film, and ended it, and it went back in a secure case. something like that
Yea I figured it was something secret like that. So she must sign a NDA too
oh, of course
Never did it say in the Facebook message that Neil got to see it early. The message reads “Gareth Edwards did all he could to make Saturday a very special day for Neil.”
I think he was shown some scenes but not the whole movie since the movie’s still being edited right at this moment. Gareth probably told him what happens in the movie too.
splitting hairs
Props to Disney. Super cool. I recall JJ did this for a guy before TFA was released. RIP Homie, we’re all right behind you.
Made my day! Great job Disney! RIP my brother in the force.
Really happy that he was able to get his wish before he passed. Sometimes when you have something to look forward to it helps you hold on for just a little while longer. Hope he is resting in peace.
Clear skies to you, Neil…
I have no words…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0PvZGVPiJU
Sigh… gets me every time. I still remember Daniel. So glad the powers that be for whatever reason give these people some kindness before the end.
Star Wars is more then a movie at times, and this makes the bond that we all have stronger by seeing somebody get a final wish come true. Im glad that, again, a wish came true. Kudos to Disney and Lucasfilm… Rest in peace…
may the force be with you, sir! i’m glad he got to see the film before he passed on.. we can hope he was in good spirits when he became one with the force. the power of social media never fails to amaze me!
May he live long and prosper.
Um, seriously?
May the Force be with him.
I hope all the people complaining of “special treatment” and “squeaky wheels” realise a man died young but got, at least, his dying wish.
You all that didn’t die will eventually watch it too and, more. You’ll get to live beyond August 2016.