Rating: 3/5 Sand and Swords

The Scorpion King franchise has had a long, strange journey—from Dwayne Johnson’s breakout role to a series of direct-to-DVD sequels. The Scorpion King 2026 attempts to resurrect the franchise with a new lead and a bigger budget, and the results are… adequate.

The film introduces a new Mathayus (a muscular newcomer with charisma to spare), a descendant of the original Scorpion King, who must unite the warring tribes of the desert to face a common enemy: a sorcerer (a delightfully hammy performance) who has raised an army of undead warriors using an ancient artifact.

The action is the highlight. The sword fights are choreographed with genuine skill, and a sequence involving a battle on moving sand dunes is visually impressive. The new Mathayus holds his own, though he lacks The Rock’s undeniable screen presence. The plot is standard fantasy fare—prophecies, betrayals, a love interest who can fight—but it moves at a brisk pace.

The Verdict: A perfectly serviceable sword-and-sandal adventure that knows its audience and delivers. It’s no Gladiator, but it’s a fun afternoon watch.