The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption
Third Scorpion King film with Victor Webster replacing Dwayne Johnson.
The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption is a 2012 American direct-to-video sword-and-sorcery action film that came out on January 10, 2012. It’s the third movie in The Scorpion King series, with Victor Webster taking over the lead role from Dwayne Johnson. The story picks up after Mathayus becomes the Scorpion King, following him as he tries to stop Talus from getting the Book of the Dead. This was the first movie made by Universal 1440 Entertainment.
After his wife Queen Cassandra dies from a plague years after her prophecy, Mathayus lets his kingdom crumble and goes back to being a mercenary. Talus, the younger brother of Egyptian King Horus, wants to take over Horus’s kingdom and heads to the Far East to steal the Book of the Dead from King Ramusan. Horus hires Mathayus and pairs him with a Teutonic warrior named Olaf to stop Talus. Talus kidnaps Ramusan’s daughter, Silda, and Ramusan promises Mathayus he can marry her and rebuild a kingdom if he rescues her. Before Mathayus can save her, Silda is taken by a ninja army led by a mysterious figure called Cobra. Talus then hires Mathayus and Olaf to bring back the princess and Cobra’s head. They end up at an exiles’ camp where Cobra is revealed to be Silda herself. Talus attacks Ramusan’s palace, takes the Book of the Dead, and uses it to reanimate dead warriors Zulu Kondo, Agromael, and Tsukai. He tests them by having them kill his best men, then sends Tsukai and Zulu Kondo to attack the exiles’ camp. Mathayus, Olaf, and Silda’s ninjas defeat Zulu Kondo, but Tsukai escapes. Mathayus and Olaf return to the palace, now Talus’s base, pretending to have rescued Silda and brought Cobra’s head. Talus still plans to marry Silda, but Mathayus attacks him, only for Tsukai to intervene. Mathayus chases Talus while Silda fights Tsukai, and Olaf battles Agromael for the Book of the Dead. The ninjas stop Talus, and Mathayus finds the wounded Ramusan; together they use the Book of the Dead to stop Tsukai and Agromael from killing Silda and Olaf. Ramusan dies in his daughter’s arms, and Talus faces the ninjas. Tsukai and Agromael bow to Mathayus as the new ruler of both kingdoms. When Horus arrives, Mathayus greets him, having taken up the Scorpion King mantle again. It’s later revealed Mathayus and Silda shared a kiss at an earlier party.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Roel Reiné
- Producer
- Leslie Belzberg
- Screenplay
- Brendan Cowles / Shane Kuhn
- Story
- Randall McCormick
- Starring
- Victor Webster / Bostin Christopher / Temuera Morrison / Krystal Vee / Selina Lo / Kimbo Slice / Dave Bautista / Billy Zane / Ron Perlman
- Music
- Trevor Morris
- Editing
- Matthew Friedman / Radu Ion
- Studio
- Universal 1440 Entertainment / Sommers Company / Misher Films / Alphaville Films
- Distributor
- Universal Studios Home Entertainment
- Released
- 10 January 2012
- Runtime
- 105 minutes
- Language
- English
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The film was originally scripted to be set mostly in Europe, but due to a limited budget, the director moved production to Thailand, where it was cheaper to shoot. CGI was used to add sand around Horus's city, which is supposed to be in a desert. The battle scenes used 400 extras, but most fighting was done by the main cast and just 12 stunt men, who played multiple roles in different costumes. The rest of the extras were not trained to fight and stayed in the background. Many scenes were shot at tourist locations that could not be reserved, so filming frequently stopped when tourists walked through.
Reader's Guide
The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption is notable as the first film produced by Universal 1440 Entertainment and as the third entry in The Scorpion King series, with Victor Webster taking over the lead role from Dwayne Johnson. Reception was mixed: IGN gave it a 4/10 rating, criticizing its dialogue, acting, and action sequences, while CraveOnline gave it a 7/10, calling it a 'damned fun B-movie' with likable characters and entertaining action. The film earned $4,098,483 in home market sales. A sequel, The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power, was later released, with Webster reprising his role.
Did You Know?
- The film was originally set in Europe but moved to Thailand due to budget constraints.
- Only 12 stunt men played multiple roles in different costumes to appear in all battle scenes.
- A planned scene where Zulu Kondo's hammer magically returns to his hand was cut because the 2011 film Thor had already done the same thing.
- Filming frequently stopped because tourists walked through scenes shot at unreserved tourist locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who plays the Scorpion King in The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption?
Victor Webster steps into the title role for this 2012 entry, replacing Dwayne Johnson who headlined the earlier installments.
What is the main plot of The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption?
The story follows Mathayus after he has already assumed the Scorpion King mantle, as he sets out to stop the villain Talus from seizing the Book of the Dead.
When was The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption released and in what format?
The American sword-and-sorcery action film came out on January 10, 2012, as a direct-to-video title rather than a theatrical release.
Why is The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption notable within the franchise?
It is the third film in the Scorpion King series and the first production made by Universal 1440 Entertainment. It also marks the franchise's shift to a new lead actor following Dwayne Johnson's departure from the role.
More in Direct-to-video Fantasy Films 1-21
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced