John Debney - The Scorpion King (The Deluxe Edition / Original Motion Picture Score) (2025)

The Scorpion King (2002) was a prequel and spin-off of Universal Pictures’ successful Mummy franchise, launching the superstardom of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in his first lead role. The Rock reprised his character of Mathayus from The Mummy Returns in an origin story depicting the Akkadian mercenary’s rise to power 5,001 years prior to the events of the previous films.
Director Chuck Russell (The Mask, Eraser) chose John Debney to score The Scorpion King based on the strength of his symphonic score for Cutthroat Island (1995). Debney followed in the Mummy footsteps of Jerry Goldsmith and Alan Silvestri with a gargantuan, desert-flavored action score for full orchestra and choir, including non-Western instruments like the ney, duduk and ram’s horn (and Japanese taiko drums and flutes) to evoke exoticism and antiquity. He also, befitting the film’s contemporary swagger and The Rock’s wrestling fanbase, created a “mash-up” of symphonic instruments with shredding electric guitars.
Director and composer intended the score to be a tribute to classic adventure films. As Debney recalls in the new liner notes, “Chuck stressed how he wanted it to hearken back to those great films from yesteryear, where you have a lot of musical scurrying around. I went back to Korngold for its pirate aspect and the music of Ray Harryhausen’s Sinbad movies, as well as Jerry and Alan. I love doing these little musical homages to my heroes.”
The Scorpion King was released by Varèse Sarabande as a 40-minute CD at the time of the film. The 2CD Deluxe Edition doubles the score program to nearly 80 minutes, and adds a bonus section of Debney’s demos. Liner notes are by Daniel Schweiger.

Tracklist:
1-1 John Debney - Never An Akadian [0:58]
1-2 John Debney - Boo! [1:28]
1-3 John Debney - The Scorpion King: Main Title [1:41]
1-4 John Debney - Tribal Council [2:45]
1-5 John Debney - Camels Are Smarter [0:34]
1-6 John Debney - Night Attack [3:57]
1-7 John Debney - Mathayus Meets Memnon / Fire Ants (Suite) [3:42]
1-8 John Debney - Escape From Ants [2:28]
1-9 John Debney - Cassandra's Vision [0:55]
1-10 John Debney - Savage World [1:30]
1-11 John Debney - Enemy At The Gate [0:31]
1-12 John Debney - Pickpockets [2:45]
1-13 John Debney - Failed Attempt [2:36]
1-14 John Debney - Wild Ride [1:22]
1-15 John Debney - Harem Scarem [1:39]
1-16 John Debney - Cassandra's Bath [1:32]
1-17 John Debney - Time To Go [0:44]
1-18 John Debney - Message To Memnon [3:04]
1-19 John Debney - Valley Of The Dead [2:15]
1-20 John Debney - In The Cave [3:40]
1-21 John Debney - Mathayus Arises [1:28]
1-22 John Debney - Healing [0:52]
1-23 John Debney - Return To Sender [2:33]
1-24 John Debney - The Oasis [0:42]
1-25 John Debney - Balthazar's Camp [5:11]
1-26 John Debney - Vision Of Doom [1:07]
1-27 John Debney - I Had A Vision [2:38]
1-28 John Debney - Cassandra Leaves Camp [0:30]
1-29 John Debney - Step Aside / Marching In (Suite) [0:46]
1-30 John Debney - Cassandra Returns [1:14]
1-31 John Debney - Veiled Threat [2:00]
1-32 John Debney - A Small Demonstration [3:53]
1-33 John Debney - Party's Over [1:07]
1-34 John Debney - I've Come For The Woman [3:27]
1-35 John Debney - Balthazar Arrives [3:09]
1-36 John Debney - Die Well, Assassin [3:42]
1-37 John Debney - The Scorpion King [3:31]
1-38 John Debney - Never An Akadian (Demo) [1:24]
1-39 John Debney - Boo! (Demo) [1:28]
1-40 John Debney - The Scorpion King: Main Title (Demo) [1:44]
1-41 John Debney - Night Attack (Demo) [4:03]
1-42 John Debney - Escape From Ants (Demo) [2:25]
1-43 John Debney - Savage World (Demo) [1:33]
1-44 John Debney - Failed Attempt (Demo) [2:35]
1-45 John Debney - Wild Ride (Demo) [3:04]
1-46 John Debney - Valley Of The Dead (Demo) [2:15]
1-47 John Debney - Mathayus Arises (Demo) [1:32]
1-48 John Debney - Return To Sender (Demo) [2:45]
1-49 John Debney - The Oasis / Balthazar's Camp (Suite / Demo) [5:41]