# The Scorpion King: Book of Souls
**The Scorpion King: Book of Souls** is a 2018 American direct-to-video action-adventure fantasy film, the fifth installment of the Scorpion King franchise that began with the 2002 theatrical film starring [Dwayne Johnson](https://www.edgepedia.org/dwayne-johnson). Directed by Don Michael Paul and starring [Zach McGowan](https://www.edgepedia.org/zach-mcgowan) as the warrior Mathayus, the Scorpion King, it was produced by Universal 1440 [Entertainment](https://www.edgepedia.org/entertainment) and released on Blu-ray, DVD, Digital, and On Demand on October 23, 2018.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/scorpion_king_book_of_souls) • [2](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/from-universal-1440-entertainment-scorpion-king-book-of-souls-300698119.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | October 23, 2018, on Blu-ray combo pack, DVD, Digital, and On Demand, from Universal 1440 Entertainment[2](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/from-universal-1440-entertainment-scorpion-king-book-of-souls-300698119.html) |
| Director / writers | Don Michael Paul; screenplay by David Alton Hedges and Frank DeJohn; produced by Mike Elliott[3](https://moviesanywhere.com/movie/the-scorpion-king-book-of-souls-2018) |
| Lead cast | Zach McGowan (the Scorpion King), Pearl Thusi (Tala), Peter Mensah (Nebserek), Nathan Jones (Enkidu), Katy Louise Saunders (Amina)[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/scorpion_king_book_of_souls/cast-and-crew) |
| Franchise position | Fifth and final installment of the Scorpion King series[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/scorpion_king_book_of_souls) |
| Runtime and rating | 1 hour 42 minutes; PG-13 for sequences of violence, suggestive content, and some partial nudity[5](https://www.universalpicturesathome.com/movies/the-scorpion-king-book-of-souls) |
| Filming | Principal photography in Cape Town, South Africa, announced November 15, 2017[6](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/from-universal-1440-entertainment-scorpion-king-book-of-souls-300556461.html) |
| Estimated US disc sales | $674,167 in DVD sales and $513,795 in Blu-ray sales, about $1.19 million total; no theatrical release[7](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Scorpion-King-Book-of-Souls-%282018%29) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
The story is set in ancient Egypt. The evil warlord Nebserek, played by [Peter Mensah](https://www.edgepedia.org/peter-mensah), discovers a cursed sword that makes its wielder more powerful with every soul it strikes down. To stop his power from growing, the Scorpion King joins forces with Tala ([Pearl Thusi](https://www.edgepedia.org/pearl-thusi)), a Nubian princess described in some summaries as the sister of the Nubian King; Amina ([Katy Louise Saunders](https://www.edgepedia.org/katy-louise-saunders)), a mysterious woman with a magical and tragic secret; and Amina's golem guardian, Enkidu (Nathan Jones). Together they search for the Book of Souls, the one thing that can defeat Nebserek.[5](https://www.universalpicturesathome.com/movies/the-scorpion-king-book-of-souls) • [3](https://moviesanywhere.com/movie/the-scorpion-king-book-of-souls-2018) • [8](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt7338690/credits/)
### Place in the franchise
[The Scorpion King](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-scorpion-king) series is a spin-off of *The Mummy Returns* (2001), in which the character Mathayus first appeared, and it began with the 2002 film *The Scorpion King* directed by [Chuck Russell](https://www.edgepedia.org/chuck-russell) and starring Dwayne Johnson.[9](https://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-scorpion-king-book-of-souls/KcacWEjjM0knpZaiB5g6E1/news/) Johnson did not return for the sequels, which went straight to home video.[10](https://twinfinite.net/news/direct-to-vide-sequel-failed-fantasy-spinoff-rising-again-on-streaming/) Book of Souls features none of the original actors and keeps only the character of Mathayus as a throughline to the rest of the series.[10](https://twinfinite.net/news/direct-to-vide-sequel-failed-fantasy-spinoff-rising-again-on-streaming/)
**A recast lead.** Zach McGowan is the fourth actor to play the title character, after Johnson, Michael Copon in the 2008 prequel *[The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-scorpion-king-2-rise-of-a-warrior)*, and [Victor Webster](https://www.edgepedia.org/victor-webster) in the third and fourth films.[10](https://twinfinite.net/news/direct-to-vide-sequel-failed-fantasy-spinoff-rising-again-on-streaming/) • [1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/scorpion_king_book_of_souls) Reviewers noted that McGowan, unlike most of his predecessors in the sequels, comes from an acting background rather than sports or professional fighting.[11](https://moriareviews.com/fantasy/scorpion-king-book-of-souls-2018.htm) The Nerdly review judged the film head and shoulders above the two Victor Webster entries, crediting its return to elements of the 2002 original, including a golem character and a mystical heroine, for a more coherent tale.[12](https://www.nerdly.co.uk/2018/12/12/scorpion-king-book-of-souls-review/)
## Production and cast
Universal 1440 Entertainment, the original content production arm of [Universal Pictures Home Entertainment](https://www.edgepedia.org/universal-pictures-home-entertainment), announced on November 15, 2017 that the film had begun principal photography in [Cape Town](https://www.edgepedia.org/cape-town), South Africa, with release planned for late 2018 on Blu-ray, DVD, Digital, On Demand, and streaming.[6](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/from-universal-1440-entertainment-scorpion-king-book-of-souls-300556461.html) The press release described the film as continuing the heroic story of the great warrior Mathayus, played by franchise newcomer Zach McGowan, known for the television series *Black Sails*, alongside Pearl Thusi of *Quantico*, [Nathan Jones](https://www.edgepedia.org/nathan-jones-wrestler) of *Mad Max: Fury Road*, and Peter Mensah of *Spartacus*.[6](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/from-universal-1440-entertainment-scorpion-king-book-of-souls-300556461.html)
The supporting cast includes Mayling Ng as Khensa, Howard Charles as Uruk, and Inge Beckmann.[5](https://www.universalpicturesathome.com/movies/the-scorpion-king-book-of-souls) Frederik Wiedmann composed the score, Hein de Vos served as cinematographer, and Vanick Moradian edited.[8](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt7338690/credits/)
## Reception and commercial performance
The film skipped theaters and went directly to home video.[10](https://twinfinite.net/news/direct-to-vide-sequel-failed-fantasy-spinoff-rising-again-on-streaming/) The Numbers estimates domestic physical sales of $674,167 on DVD and $513,795 on Blu-ray, a combined $1,187,962.[7](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Scorpion-King-Book-of-Souls-%282018%29) On Rotten Tomatoes the film had no critic reviews counted on its Tomatometer, while its audience Popcornmeter stood at 78 percent from more than 250 ratings.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/scorpion_king_book_of_souls)
Critical response was mixed to negative. The Moria review found the action scenes passable and the film adequately entertaining but dramatically flat, with nothing at stake.[11](https://moriareviews.com/fantasy/scorpion-king-book-of-souls-2018.htm) Movieman's Guide called the acting substandard but credited Peter Mensah with playing the villain to the hilt.[13](https://moviemansguide.com/main/2018/10/scorpion-king-book-of-souls-blu-ray-review/) A Movie Mavericks review gave the film one and a half stars and called it derivative.[14](https://moviemavericks.com/2018/10/the-scorpion-king-book-of-souls-2018-review/)
**Later streaming life.** More than four years after release, the film drew renewed attention on streaming: in December 2022 it was reported to have reached the top 10 of Hulu's most streamed titles, with all five Scorpion King films available on that service.[10](https://twinfinite.net/news/direct-to-vide-sequel-failed-fantasy-spinoff-rising-again-on-streaming/) Netflix has also carried the film in some territories.[15](https://www.netflix.com/title/81016602?fromWatch=true)
## References
1. [The Scorpion King: Book of Souls, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/scorpion_king_book_of_souls)
2. [From Universal 1440 Entertainment: Scorpion King: Book of Souls (home entertainment announcement), PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/from-universal-1440-entertainment-scorpion-king-book-of-souls-300698119.html)
3. [The Scorpion King: Book of Souls, Movies Anywhere](https://moviesanywhere.com/movie/the-scorpion-king-book-of-souls-2018)
4. [The Scorpion King: Book of Souls: Full Cast & Crew, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/scorpion_king_book_of_souls/cast-and-crew)
5. [The Scorpion King: Book of Souls, Universal Pictures At Home](https://www.universalpicturesathome.com/movies/the-scorpion-king-book-of-souls)
6. [From Universal 1440 Entertainment: "Scorpion King: Book of Souls" begins principal photography in Cape Town, PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/from-universal-1440-entertainment-scorpion-king-book-of-souls-300556461.html)
7. [Scorpion King: Book of Souls (2018), Box office and financial information, The Numbers](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Scorpion-King-Book-of-Souls-%282018%29)
8. [The Scorpion King: Book of Souls (2018), Box Office Mojo credits](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt7338690/credits/)
9. [Scorpion King: Book of Souls (2018), News, Moviefone](https://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-scorpion-king-book-of-souls/KcacWEjjM0knpZaiB5g6E1/news/)
10. [A Direct-to-Video 2018 Sequel to a Failed Fantasy Spinoff Is Rising Again on Streaming, Twinfinite](https://twinfinite.net/news/direct-to-vide-sequel-failed-fantasy-spinoff-rising-again-on-streaming/)
11. [Scorpion King: Book of Souls (2018), Moria, The Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Film Review](https://moriareviews.com/fantasy/scorpion-king-book-of-souls-2018.htm)
12. ['Scorpion King: Book of Souls' Review, Nerdly](https://www.nerdly.co.uk/2018/12/12/scorpion-king-book-of-souls-review/)
13. [Scorpion King: Book of Souls Blu-ray Review, Movieman's Guide to the Movies](https://moviemansguide.com/main/2018/10/scorpion-king-book-of-souls-blu-ray-review/)
14. [The Scorpion King: Book of Souls (2018) Review, Movie Mavericks](https://moviemavericks.com/2018/10/the-scorpion-king-book-of-souls-2018-review/)
15. [Scorpion King: Book of Souls, Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/title/81016602?fromWatch=true)
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