In the 1970s, Terrence Malick began work on a film about the history of the universe and the beginning of life. That ambitious project, titled Q, has now evolved into the iconic filmmaker’s first documentary.

Voyage of Time is a hymn to the glories of nature, life and scientific discovery, and looks set to affect audiences with a sophisticated and stunning mosaic of cosmic imagery. Indie Wire wrote, “Ambitious is a word that gets tossed around way too much these days, and when it comes to Terrence Malick, it’s practically used as a synonym for the grand visions we expect from the filmmaker. But in the case of the director’s upcoming documentary Voyage Of Time, the word “ambitious” isn’t just appropriate, it’s honestly a massive understatement.”

Slate said, “Voyage of Time looks like the star child of Koyaanisqatsi, Planet Earth, and 2001: A Space Odyssey.” From AV Club, “The impressively ambitious montage of imagery and music will purportedly tell the story of our universe, from its cacophonous outset to its inevitable denouement, taking time to weave in the circuitous genetic pathway of a carbon-based life form that arose from the chaos.”

The official synopsis reads, “Voyage of Time: The IMAX Experience is a one-of-a-kind celebration of life and the grand history of the cosmos, transporting audiences into a vast yet up-close-and personal journey that spans the eons from the Big Bang to the dinosaur age to our present human world … and beyond. A labor of love from one of American cinema’s most acclaimed and visually exciting filmmakers, Terrence Malick (The Thin Red Line, Tree of Life), Voyage of Time has been nearly four decades in the making and represents the filmmaker’s first foray into documentary storytelling. The film’s panorama of awe-inspiring images will take you into the heart of monumental events never witnessed — from the birth of the stars and galaxies to the explosion of diverse life-forms on planet earth, including humankind — in immersive new ways that only IMAX can deliver.” It concludes, “This is a cosmic experience — a hymn to the glories of nature, life and scientific discovery — in which all the elements come together to form Malick’s most original film to date.”

The critically acclaimed director’s long-awaited film will be released in two formats, a 40 minute IMAX experience narrated by Brad Pitt, and a 90 minute 35mm version narrated by Cate Blanchett.

Voyage of Time will be in theaters October 7.