Producer Hiram Garcia reveals that the script draft for the long-awaited Scorpion King reboot is finished. Reported back in 2020, The Scorpion King reboot is happening with the help of Universal Pictures and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. While Johnson is serving as an executive producer for the film, he will not be starring in it. Instead, a new actor will lead the movie.
The original 2002 film, The Scorpion King, helped launched Johnson's Hollywood career as a lead actor. While the movie received mixed reviews from critics, it managed to gross over $165 million at the box office, making it a moderate commercial success. Plans for a sequel were made with Johnson pegged to reprise the titular role, however Johnson became preoccupied with other big-budget projects, such as 2003's The Rundown and 2004's Walking Tall. Though Johnson's absence posed a problem, that didn't stop executive producer Stephen Sommers from recasting the main role and making four additional movies in the franchise. Sommers' fifth film, The Scorpion King: Book of Souls, was released straight to video and was believed to be the final installment in the franchise. Now, though, it appears the Scorpion King is returning to the big screen with the help of its original star.
In an interview with Collider, Garcia revealed new details concerning The Scorpion King reboot. According to Garcia, the first draft of the reboot's script is finished. While he wouldn't offer further details, Garcia did say the finished script is now heading towards editing and polishing. View Garcia's full quote below:
"We just got a first draft in and we're having a polish done on it now. That's such a beloved franchise, and like you alluded to, that entire world including the Mummy and Scorpion King are so much fun that we just want to continue telling stories in that space."
It was previously reported that screenwriter Jonathan Herman, writer of Straight Outta Compton, which earned him an Academy Award nomination, was pegged to pen the script. The reboot is said to be a spin-off of The Mummy franchise, in which Johnson first appeared as the Scorpion King in 2001's sequel, The Mummy Returns. It will also mark the first involvement of Johnson in the franchise since the original film, The Scorpion King. Though Johnson holds the original movie close to his heart (it did start his acting career after all), he will not be appearing in the reboot. Who will take up the titular role is not yet known at this time.
Love them or hate them, the world of The Mummy and Scorpion King have a devoted fan base that look back on the films with fondness. While the original movie helped launch Johnson's acting career, he wasn't exactly praised for his acting talent in the film. The Rock has definitely grown as an actor since then. However, it does appear that he still has love for the original Scorpion King, so his involvement in the reboot can only be a good sign. It will also be interesting to see who they choose to take up the leading role.
Source: Collider