Matt Damon's sci-fi flick 'Elysium' about space, poverty, pollution Matt Damon arrives at the photo call for the film "Promised Land" during the 63rd Berlinale Film Festival in Berlin on February 8, 2013. LOS ANGELES, April 9 (UPI) -- Hollywood actor Matt Damon's upcoming sci-fi flick "Elysium" is about how rich people escape to a space station after Earth is ruined by pollution and poverty. Written and directed by Neill Blomkamp, the film is set to hit theaters Aug. 9. The trailer for it was released worldwide Monday. "In the year 2159, two classes of people exist: the very wealthy, who live on a pristine man-made space station called Elysium, and the rest, who live on an overpopulated, ruined planet," a synopsis from TriStar Pictures says. The people of Earth are desperate to escape the crime and poverty that is now rampant throughout the land. The only man with the chance to bring equality to these worlds is Max [played by Matt Damon], an ordinary guy in desperate need to get to Elysium," the synopsis said. With his life hanging in the balance, he reluctantly takes on a dangerous mission -- one that pits him against Elysium's Secretary Delacourt [played by Jodie Foster] and her hard-line forces -- but if he succeeds, he could save not only his own life, but millions of people on Earth, as well.