Well Go USA acquires ‘Once Upon a Time in the Middle East’ for North American release

Well Go USA Entertainment has acquired the North American distribution rights to the Chinese war drama ‘Once Upon a Time in the Middle East’, directed by Wen Muye. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release in North America on October 9, 2026.

Following a successful run in China, where it has grossed more than US$318 million, the film stars Shen Teng as Xu Fu, a chef who travels to a fictional Middle Eastern city to escape debt. Alongside restaurant manager Ma Junsheng, played by Jiang Qiming, Xu transforms the struggling Dragon Restaurant into a thriving business. However, as war erupts in the region, the restaurant becomes an impromptu refuge for civilians caught in the conflict.

The ensemble cast includes Egyptian actor Omar Sharif as an orphaned apprentice and Hong Kong performer Aarif Lee as a Chinese American soldier.