LOS ANGELES – Brad Pitt wowed crowds on Wednesday at the Los Angeles premiere of his upcoming film “Ad Astra,” a science fiction set in space that has already opened to rave reviews.

After launching the film at the Venice Film Festival, Pitt, who has produced the movie apart from playing the lead role, showed up at the LA premiere in an elegant black suit and a polo t-shirt to attend the movie’s commercial premiere before it hits theaters on Friday.

Pitt, who is having a great 2019 after his acclaimed act in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” was accompanied on the red carpet at the Cinerama Dome by other “Ad Astra” stars like Ruth Negga, Liv Tyler, Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland, John Ortiz, and director Gray.

In the film, Pitt plays an astronaut who travels to the extremes of the solar system in search of his father (Tommy Lee Jones), who has been missing in outer space for years on a mission that puts the entire human race in danger.

The space saga, which is influenced by classics ranging from Homer’s “Odyssey” to Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” and Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick,” traces the emotional journey of a man abandoned by his father and someone who finds it hard to open up to others.

Pitt’s first space movie is already winning praises from critics for his performance and visual wonders of a compelling story.

In an interview to EFE in Venice, Pitt said “Ad Astra” is also a reflection on values associated with masculinity.

“James (Gray) and I always grew up with this idea of masculinity being a strength, don’t show weakness, don’t be disrespected (...) And that is actually a bit of prison from taking inventory of your missteps and weaker areas and it actually becomes a barrier from being really open with those you love,” he said.

“Ad Astra,” which generated positive reviews in Venice, faces fierce competition this weekend as it releases alongside “Downtown Abbey,” based on the British series by the same name; and “Rambo: Last Blood,” the fifth installment of Sylvester Stallone’s legendary action film franchise.