STAR TREK Fan Passes Away Following Advanced INTO DARKNESS Screening

As previously reported by BWW Movies World, J.J. Abrams gave a private screening of the highly anticipated film STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS, for a lifelong fan of the franchise who was suffering from two forms of cancer. It's now known that the fan, Daniel Craft, passed away Friday night just hours after viewing the movie.

Craft, one of the founders of the New York Asian Film Festival, was taken to the hospital on Friday by his wife Paige; at 10:15 PM, he died with his wife and brother by his side. Craft was 41.

Reports of Craft's family's request began a few weeks ago when a user on Reddit posted that his friend, who had only a few weeks to live, was disappointed when he went to a local theater to view 'The Hobbit' hoping to see the prologue for the upcoming Star Trek film. However, the prologue was not screened at the showing he attended.

The online posting caught the eye of Star Trek director J.J. Abrams who set up a private screening of the entire film for Dan and his wife. The thrilled duo expressed their excitement posting, "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...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%!"

She went on to ask that everyone keep their story in mind as an example of giving during the holidays. "This is a story of us giving something to him, the 'internet' community giving something to him and ultimately being a heartwarming gift to our friends, family and so many others. This story of us (and of course JJAbrams & Bad Robot) being able to give this surprise gift of a screening to a huge movie buff like Daniel, especially a film made by a film maker who obviously makes movies with such care, with a fan like Daniel in mind."

STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS is set for a May 17 theatrical release.