The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian is the thrilling prequel to The Scorpion King, the action blockbuster that starred Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as Mathayus, the fearsome warrior king of an ancient desert empire. The new film, a heroic tale of loyalty and betrayal filled with heart-stopping action and thrilling visual effects, tells the story of how the young Mathayus rose to become the Scorpion King. Shot entirely in South Africa, this entertaining blend of myth, magic and muscle is directed by Russell Mulcahy and stars Michael Copon as the young hero Mathayus, Simon Quarterman as the wily Ari, Karen David (The Colour of Magic) as the beautiful Layla, Ralf Moeller as the fierce warrior Pollux, and current six-time Ultimate Fighting Championship king Randy Couture, holder of three heavyweight and three light heavyweight titles, as the charismatic and powerful villain Sargon.