JJ Abrams screens new Star Trek film for terminally ill fan

JJ Abrams has screened the new 'Star Trek' film 'Star Trek Into Darkness' for a terminally ill fan after his friends campaigned online.

Known only as Daniel, he was invited to see the unfinished film by the director, who is notoriously protective of his work, months before it is scheduled for release.

[Related story: Abrams turned down Star Wars Episode 7]

'Star Trek' buff Daniel has been suffering from two forms of cancer, and was told recently that he had just weeks to live.

In a letter published on Reddit from his wife, she told how touched his friends and family were at the gesture.

“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,” read the post.

“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 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....”

The film is due out on 17 May.

[Related link: Shop for Star Trek DVDs on Amazon]