The Scorpion King: Book of Souls

The Scorpion King: Book of Souls
Release poster
Directed by	Don Michael Paul
Written by	David Alton Hedges Frank DeJohn
Produced by	Mike Elliott
Starring	Zach McGowan Pearl Thusi Nathan Jones Katy Louise Saunders Mayling Ng Howard Charles Inge Beckmann Tuks Tad Lungu Peter Mensah
Narrated by	Peter Jessop
Cinematography	Hein de Vos
Edited by	Vanick Moradian
Music by	Frederik Wiedmann
Production companies	Universal 1440 Entertainment[1] Sean Daniel Company Sommers Company Misher Films
Distributed by	Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Release date	October 23, 2018 (2018-10-23)
Running time	102 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The Scorpion King: Book of Souls is a 2018 American direct-to-video sword and sorcery action-adventure film.^[1] As the fifth and final installment in The Scorpion King series, it represents the culmination of the original series and a sequel to The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power.^[2] The film stars Zach McGowan as Mathayus, along with Pearl Thusi, Mayling Ng, and Peter Mensah in supporting roles. Directed by Don Michael Paul and written by David Alton Hedges.

In ancient Egypt, King Memtep forges a powerful sword known as the Fang of Anubis after striking a deal with the god of the underworld. The blade gains its strength by capturing the souls of those it slays, with their names inscribed in the mystical Book of Souls.

Centuries later, the evil warlord Nebserek unearths the Fang and begins a campaign of conquest. Meanwhile, a Nubian warrior named Tala seeks the legendary Scorpion King to help defeat Nebserek. She rescues a blacksmith named Mathayus, believed to be the Scorpion King, and enlists him on a quest to stop the dark power rising in Egypt.

Together, they face numerous challenges, including battles with mercenaries, a warrior tribe known as the Black Arrows, and a golem named Enkidu who protects Amina—the human embodiment of the Book of Souls. With Amina's help, they uncover the secret to destroying the Fang: it can only be neutralized by sacrificing the Book itself.

As Nebserek closes in, a climactic battle erupts. Enkidu dies protecting Amina, Tala ascends as Queen of Nubia, and Mathayus embraces his role as the Scorpion King. In a final act of sacrifice, Amina willingly perishes to break the curse of the sword, releasing the trapped souls. Mathayus departs alone, having fulfilled his destiny once more.

The film was produced by Universal 1440 Entertainment and shot primarily in South Africa. Don Michael Paul, known for helming sequels such as Tremors 5: Bloodlines and Death Race: Beyond Anarchy, returned to direct. Principal photography featured on-location shooting in arid, desert-like environments to simulate ancient Egypt and Nubia. Zach McGowan was cast as the new Scorpion King, taking over the role previously played by actors like Dwayne Johnson and Victor Webster. The film marked the fifth and final entry in The Scorpion King franchise.^[3]

The Scorpion King: Book of Souls received generally negative reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film initially held a 33% approval rating based on six reviews, with an average rating of 4.3/10.^[4] Critics noted the film’s limited production value and derivative storyline, while some praised the performances of Pearl Thusi and Peter Mensah for adding depth to an otherwise formulaic script. Due to its direct-to-video release, the film did not receive wide attention from mainstream critics.

• The Scorpion King: Book of Souls at IMDb
• The Scorpion King: Book of Souls at Rotten Tomatoes