The 2002 film, The Scorpion King, directed by Chuck Russell, depicts the journey of Mathayus as he attempts to overthrow the despotic warrior Memnon. The Scorpion King serves as a prequel to The Mummy Returns, and it helped explain the origin story of how Mathayus came to be the Scorpion King and the villain of the latter film. Luckily for fans of The Mummy Returns, The Scorpion King was able to bring back the same actor for the titular role as well as add other prominent actors to the cast list.
The Scorpion King received modest reviews from critics and currently holds a 41% score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the film did well enough with audiences, grossing $180.6 million on a $60 million budget, and it spawned several Scorpion King direct-to-video sequels. Along with the entertaining action sequences, much of the movie's success came from its actors' performances as fantastical ancient characters.
The Cast Of Scorpion King
Actor
Role
Dwayne Johnson
Mathayus/The Scorpion King
Steven Brand
Memnon
Kelly Hu
Cassandra
Grant Heslov
Arpid
Michael Clarke Duncan
Balthazar
Bernard Hill
Philos
Peter Facinelli
Takmet
Roger Rees
King Pheron
Ralf Moeller
Thorak
Branscombe Richmond
Jesup
Dwayne Johnson as Mathayus/The Scorpion King
Date of Birth: May 2, 1972
Active Since: 1999
Actor: Born in Hayward, California, Dwayne Johnson initially rose to fame as a professional wrestler. His positive reputation as a wrestler allowed him to break into acting with several small guest roles on TV, before landing his first major role as Mathayus in The Mummy Returns. Since this breakout role, Johnson has become one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood and best known for his work in the Fast & Furious franchise as Luke Hobbs and, for younger audiences, as the voice of Maui in Moana.
Notable Movies:
Movie
Role
The Mummy Returns
The Scorpion King
Walking Tall
Chris Vaughn Jr.
The Game Plan
Joe Kingman
San Andreas
Ray Gaines
Moana
Maui (voice)
Fast Five
Luke Hobbs
Fast & Furious 6
Luke Hobbs
Furious 7
Luke Hobbs
The Fate of the Furious
Luke Hobbs
Hobbs & Shaw
Luke Hobbs
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Spencer Gilpin/Dr. Xander Bravestone
Jumanji: The Next Level
Dr. Xander Bravestone
Black Adam
Black Adam
Character: Dwayne Johnson plays the main character Mathayus, later known as the Scorpion King, in The Scorpion King. At the beginning of the film, Mathayus and his brother Jesup aim to stop the evil warrior Memnon by killing his sorceress Cassandra. However, this plan fails as Mathayus ends up falling in love with Cassandra, and he must fight Memnon himself to become the Scorpion King.
The Mummy Returns' CGI Scorpion King fight is often considered the sequel's nadir, but there another setpiece that's somehow even WORSE.
Steven Brand as Memnon
Date of Birth: June 26, 1969
Active Since: 1993
Actor: Steven Brand was born in Dundee, Scotland and gained his first acting roles through guest spots in British TV shows. His breakout role was as Memnon in The Scorpion King. Brand has also starred in many guest and recurring roles on various television series. He has worked in horror films such as Hellraiser: Revelations, Echoes, and Saw X. Brand also voiced Alexander Anderson in the Hellsing series and played Dr. Gabriel Valack in the show Teen Wolf.
Notable Movies & TV Shows:
Movie/TV Show
Role
Hellraiser: Revelations
Ross Craven (voice)
Saving Lincoln
Ned Baker
Echoes
Paul Wagner
Hellsing
Alexander Anderson
Mayhem
John Towers
Teen Wolf
Dr. Gabriel Valack
Saw X
Parker Sears
Character: Steven Brand stars in The Scorpion King as Memnon, the primary villain. Memnon is a fierce warrior who has conquered many tribes. He holds Cassandra captive to use her powers, though she is later rescued by Mathayus, and in the climax of the film, Memnon is defeated by Mathayus in battle.
Kelly Hu as Cassandra
Date of Birth: February 13, 1968
Active Since: 1987
Actor: Kelly Hu was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and began her career as a model, becoming Miss Teen USA in 1985 and Miss Hawaii USA in 1993. Hu transitioned to acting in the late 1980s and gained guest roles in several television shows and in the film Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan. Her breakout role was as Rae Chang in the soap opera Sunset Beach. Since then, Hu has gained recognition for her role as China White in the DC superhero show Arrow and as the voice of Stacy Hirano in the animated series Phineas and Ferb.
Notable Movies/TV Shows:
Movie/TV Show
Role
Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
Eve Watanabe
Cradle 2 the Grave
Sona
X2
Yuriko Oyama/Lady Deathstrike
Sunset Beach
Rae Chang
Nash Bridges
Inspector Michelle Chan
Phineas and Ferb
Stacy Hirano (voice)
The Vampire Diaries
Pearl Zhu
Arrow
China White/China Na Wei
BMF
Detective Veronica Jin
Character: In The Scorpion King, Hu plays Cassandra, a sorceress who is forced to help Memnon until she is rescued by Mathayus, who becomes her love interest. Cassandra ultimately helps Mathayus defeat Memnon and his men in the movie's final battle.
Grant Heslov as Arpid
Date of Birth: May 15, 1963
Active Since: 1982
Actor: Born in Los Angeles, California, Grant Heslov has made a name for himself as both an actor and as a producer and writer. His breakout acting role was in the film True Lies, and Heslov is also known for his roles in Black Sheep, Enemy of the State, and Dante's Peak. Heslov is also well known for his work with George Clooney and has produced and written films such as Good Night, and Good Luck, The Ides of March, and The Monuments Men.
Notable Movies/TV Shows:
Movie
Role
True Lies
Faisil
Black Sheep
Robbie Mieghem
Dante's Peak
Greg
Enemy of the State
Lenny
Good Night, and Good Luck
Don Hewitt
Character: Grant Heslov plays Arpid in The Scorpion King. Arpid is a prisoner who helps Mathayus escape Memnon's camp early in the film. He then joins Mathayus in his mission to defeat Memnon, journeying with him throughout the movie and helping Mathayus destroy Memnon's palace during the film's final battle.
Michael Clarke Duncan as Balthazar
Date of Birth: December 10, 1957
Years Active: 1994-2012
Actor: Born in Chicago, Illinois, Michael Clarke Duncan worked as a bodyguard for celebrities and began his acting career with small roles as bodyguards and bouncers. Duncan was best known for his breakout role as John Coffey in the Frank Darabont film, The Green Mile. After gaining widespread recognition from The Green Mile, Duncan starred in films such as The Whole Nine Yards, Sin City, and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and lent his voice to numerous films and video games. Duncan passed away in 2012 at the age of 54.
Notable Movies/TV Shows:
Movie/TV Show
Role
The Green Mile
John Coffey
Daredevil
Kingpin
Armageddon
Bear
The Whole Nine Yards
Franklin Figueroa
Planet of the Apes
Attar
Sin City
Manute
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Lucius Washington
The Finder
Leo Knox
Kung Fu Panda
Commander Vachir (voice)
Green Lantern
Kilowog (voice)
Character: In The Scorpion King, Michael Clarke Duncan stars as Balthazar, the king of a nearby region. Mathayus and Balthazar are initially at odds when they meet, and Balthazar is bested by Mathayus in a fight. After being defeated Balthazar grows to respect Mathayus and aids him in his quest to defeat Memnon.
The Scorpion King Supporting Cast & Characters
Bernard Hill as Philos: Bernard Hill plays Philos, who helps Mathayus and Cassandra in their plans to defeat Memnon. Hill is also known for his roles in Titanic and The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.
Peter Facinelli as Takmet: Takmet is the son of King Pheron, who is eventually killed by Mathayus for betraying his father. Peter Facinelli is best known for his roles in Can't Hardly Wait and the Twilight series.
Roger Rees as King Pheron: In the beginning of The Scorpion King, King Pheron hires Mathayus along with his brother and friend to kill Cassandra in order to defeat Memnon. King Pheron is later betrayed and killed by his son, Takmet. Roger Rees was best known for his work in movies and TV shows such as Robin Hood: Men in Tights, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Cheers, and The West Wing.
Ralf Moeller as Thorak: Thorak is one of Memnon's warriors in The Scorpion King. He is sent by Memnon to poison Mathayus, but he does not succeed and is killed. Ralf Moeller has also had roles in the TV series Conan the Adventurer and the movie Gladiator.
Branscombe Richmond as Jesup: Branscombe Richmond plays the role of Jesup, Mathayus's brother. Jesup is killed while trying to sneak into Memnon's camp, and Mathayus decides to avenge his brother. Richmond is most known for his roles on the TV shows Renegade, Hawaiian Heat, and Heart of the City.
2002's The Scorpion King stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in the titular role. Directed by Chuck Russell, the film follows the rise of the Scorpion King and is a direct prequel and spin-off to the cult-classic film, The Mummy.
Custom image by Yailin Chacon
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