SIX years ago, wrestling star The Rock was so broke he was forced to sleep on a stained mattress thrown out by the owners of a seedy motel.

Now the 29-year-old World Wrestling Federation hero - whose real name is Dwayne Johnson - has millions in the bank and is on the brink of even greater fame thanks to the movie The Scorpion King.

Initially a cameo role in The Mummy Returns, Johnson's Scorpion King character was actually killed off in the film.

But studio bosses were so impressed with his performance they decided to cast him in a Mummy prequel set 5,000 years ago and inspired by tales of a legendary Egyptian ruler.

In action-adventure movie The Scorpion King, Johnson takes the lead role of Mathayus, an assassin who goes into battle with ruthless warlord Memnon - played by British actor Steven Brand.

Evil and ambitious warlord Memnon has swept across the mountains and plains, slaughtering thousands.

Memnon has never lost a battle because his actions are pre-decided by aseer, who foresees each bloody victory.

Only a few tribes still exist, standing between the warlord and the throne, and they band together to kill Memnon's most valuable asset - his sorcerer.

The assassin Mathayus, one of three surviving Akkadians, gladly takes up the rebel cause.

He infiltrates the enemy camp, only to discover that Memnon's seer is infact a beautiful sorceress Cassandra (Hu).

Rather than kill her, Mathayus kidnaps the sorceress, and takes her deep into the Valley of Death, the realm of Nubian giant Balthazar (Duncan). Then the two rivals put their differences aside to storm Memnon's stronghold, guided by Cassandra's visions.