Stars Matt Damon and Jodie Foster hit the red carpet on Wednesday night (August 07) for the world premiere of the summer sci-fi film, "Elysium."

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (AUGUST 07, 2013) (REUTERS) -  Stars Matt Damon and Jodie Foster greeted fans who lined up outside the Regency Village Theatre in Westwood on Wednesday night (August 07), before hitting the red carpet to talk about their new sci-fi flick, "Elysium."

While set in the future, Damon told Reuters that the film raises issues that are relevant today.

"Yes, it is more kind of an exaggerated version of what already kind of exists," explained Damon, on the film's underlying message. "I think and hopefully that is why I think people will relate to the film is that "Elysium" seems like the ultimate kind of 'gated' community where a lot of people are left on the outside."

Foster added that she's also big fan of the sci-fi genre.

"The second that we started understanding that there would be new discoveries and new intelligence, sci-fi pretty much hit home for me," said Foster. "I am always looking at sci-fi in some way to look at where our future is."

"Elysium" is expected to be among the summer box office hits. But in a season that has generated headlines for films that have "missed," director Neill Blomkamp has tried to manage the expectations.

"It really doesn't play into my thinking," said Blomkamp, when asked about the recent string of box office bombs this summer. "If you start thinking like that, you are not really an artist you are like a business person. I have an obligation to make sure that the film is responsible and that it doesn't cost 500 million dollars (USD) - the studio wouldn't give me the money. But, to worry about where is it in a certain market versus just making the film that you believe in, those are two totally different things."

The film also stars Alice Braga, Diego Luna and Sharlto Copley.

"Elysium" opens on August 09.