The Avengers have re-assembled with a few extra superheroes in tow to send a cancer-stricken teenage boy some heartwarming messages to help him through his treatment.
Spider-Man: Homecoming star Tom Holland, Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds and Captain America himself, Chris Evans, are among the Marvel icons to have offered their best wishes to 17-year-old Josh, who has leukaemia.
He was diagnosed with stage four glioblastoma – the same aggressive form of cancer Senator John McCain had – at the age of 15 and the average survival rate is only about 15 months.
This month his mother launched a social media campaign to "try to get as many celebrities to message him while he is still with us" – and the response has already been overwhelming.
Reynolds kicked things off, introducing himself as "Uncle Deadpool" in a video in which he lauded the youngster as having "more courage and more strength in your pinky finger than any superhero in their entire body".
He added: "We love you, I love you, we're thinking about you, Deadpool is thinking about you – maximum effort and hang in there, buddy."
Similar clips soon followed from a whole host of Marvel heroes, including Wolverine actor Hugh Jackman.
The Australian told Josh – who is also from Down Under – that he was "sending lots of positive thoughts".
Evans joked that while he was disappointed to hear Josh was a bigger fan of Deadpool than he was of Captain America, he accepted the preference and sent his own well wishes.
Another Marvel Chris – Chris Pratt, of Guardians of the Galaxy fame – said he was "moved" by Josh's story and told him he "wanted to help put a smile on your face".
"I'm praying for you and your mum, and just want to say I want you to be strong," he said.
"For what it's worth, I play Star Lord in the movies and play a hero, but I think real heroes are young people like you who have to face challenges and do so with the bravery that I heard you do."
And Holland recorded his message from the set of the upcoming Spider-Man: Far From Home, which is due for release next summer.
He said: "I just want to let you know that I'm thinking about you, everyone at Marvel's thinking about you, and we send you all our love."
Josh's mother is hoping that other superhero actors will join in with the campaign and those who have already sent messages have encouraged some of their fellow Hollywood stars to do the same.
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Some of those who have been asked to chime in with their own well wishes are Robert Downey Jnr, Samuel L Jackson, Charlize Theron, Dwayne Johnson and Chris Hemsworth.
A Go Fund Me page has also been launched to help pay for Josh's bucket list, with more than A$8,400 (£4,673) raised by 146 donations so far.
The Avengers have re-assembled with a few extra superheroes in tow to send a cancer-stricken teenage boy some heartwarming messages to help him through his treatment.
Spider-Man: Homecoming star Tom Holland, Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds and Captain America himself, Chris Evans, are among the Marvel icons to have offered their best wishes to 17-year-old Josh, who has leukaemia.
He was diagnosed with stage four glioblastoma – the same aggressive form of cancer Senator John McCain had – at the age of 15 and the average survival rate is only about 15 months.
This month his mother launched a social media campaign to "try to get as many celebrities to message him while he is still with us" – and the response has already been overwhelming.
Reynolds kicked things off, introducing himself as "Uncle Deadpool" in a video in which he lauded the youngster as having "more courage and more strength in your pinky finger than any superhero in their entire body".
He added: "We love you, I love you, we're thinking about you, Deadpool is thinking about you – maximum effort and hang in there, buddy."
Similar clips soon followed from a whole host of Marvel heroes, including Wolverine actor Hugh Jackman.
The Australian told Josh – who is also from Down Under – that he was "sending lots of positive thoughts".
Evans joked that while he was disappointed to hear Josh was a bigger fan of Deadpool than he was of Captain America, he accepted the preference and sent his own well wishes.
Another Marvel Chris – Chris Pratt, of Guardians of the Galaxy fame – said he was "moved" by Josh's story and told him he "wanted to help put a smile on your face".
"I'm praying for you and your mum, and just want to say I want you to be strong," he said.
"For what it's worth, I play Star Lord in the movies and play a hero, but I think real heroes are young people like you who have to face challenges and do so with the bravery that I heard you do."
And Holland recorded his message from the set of the upcoming Spider-Man: Far From Home, which is due for release next summer.
He said: "I just want to let you know that I'm thinking about you, everyone at Marvel's thinking about you, and we send you all our love."
Josh's mother is hoping that other superhero actors will join in with the campaign and those who have already sent messages have encouraged some of their fellow Hollywood stars to do the same.
More from Ents & Arts
Some of those who have been asked to chime in with their own well wishes are Robert Downey Jnr, Samuel L Jackson, Charlize Theron, Dwayne Johnson and Chris Hemsworth.
A Go Fund Me page has also been launched to help pay for Josh's bucket list, with more than A$8,400 (£4,673) raised by 146 donations so far.
