Director Wen Muye on Turning a Cook’s War into China’s $342 Million Hit ‘Once Upon a Time in the Middle East’

Since its August 11 release, “Once Upon a Time in the Middle East” has earned RMB 2.29 billion ($342 million) at the Chinese box office, establishing itself as the third-biggest domestic film of 2026. The picture serves as the latest success for director Wen Muye, whose previous credits include the hit films “Dying to Survive” and “Nice View.”

The narrative follows Xu Fu, a chef from Shenyang portrayed by comedian Shen Teng, who travels to the Middle East primarily to earn money capable of paying off his family’s debts. When he assumes the head chef position at the Dragon Restaurant, the outbreak of conflict forces him into an air-raid shelter, thrusting him into the chaos of war.

Wen explained that while the geopolitical setting is vast, the screenplay remained focused on the immediate, tangible struggles of an ordinary individual. “Although the backdrop may seem very large, for a specific little person – an ordinary person – this is a very concrete predicament that he has to face,” Wen told Variety. “We try not to consider how grand it is; we only consider how great an impact it has on the character.”

The story originated from news reports and the real-life accounts of Chinese cooks operating restaurants in the region. Wen sought to explore the intersection of culinary work and conflict, noting that Xu Fu’s experiences are rooted in his profession and his relationship with the surrounding war.

Casting Shen Teng, one of China’s most prominent comedic actors, was a deliberate choice. Wen acknowledged that Shen’s reputation for comedy brought a natural ease to heavier themes, but emphasized that the actor was fundamentally suited to the role of a middle-aged, humorous chef from Northeast China.

Alongside restaurant manager Ma Junsheng, played by Jiang Qiming, Xu Fu revitalizes the struggling eatery, which eventually transforms into a sanctuary for civilians trapped by the fighting. The restaurant serves as a recurring symbol throughout the film, appearing, thriving, vanishing from view during the protagonist’s journey, and finally reappearing at the end as a testament to peace.

Xu Fu initially approaches the war with self-preservation, viewing it as a problem belonging to others. His perspective shifts dramatically after Ma is killed while rescuing children forced by terrorists to become suicide bombers. Wen stated that he avoided scripting characters based on abstract social questions, preferring to let their actions stem from human instinct.

“I never think about social issues in advance. What I actually want to tell is the story of specific people,” Wen said. “War and peace are certainly one theme of this film, but if you always write characters with that idea in mind, there will actually be problems.”

To ensure authenticity, the production team conducted extensive interviews with cooks, laborers, and locals who had survived the conflict. The cast includes Omar Sherif as Seif, a Kurdish Iraqi orphan who becomes Xu Fu’s apprentice; Aarif Lee as Tony, a Chinese American U.S. Army private; and Sherif Sobhy as Zaid, a civil servant turned shareholder seeking revenge.

Wen co-wrote the screenplay with Lang Qunli and Zhong Wei, collaborators on his earlier films. Executive produced by Ning Hao, Wen is a protégé of Tian Zhuangzhuang from the Beijing Film Academy and won the best new director award at the 2018 Golden Horse Awards for “Dying to Survive.”

Well Go USA Entertainment is scheduled to release the film in North America on October 9.