[7] Wen had his first major role on the screen in Xue Xiaolu's literary film, Ocean Heaven (2010), playing a 21-year-old autistic man whose only happiness is swimming.
Wen was initially rejected by the producers, as he did not fit their requirements; and this prompted him to master four kinds of living strokes in one week.
[13] The low-budget film became a surprise hit and ended up grossing over 350 million yuan at the Chinese box office.
[15] The series, which explores the struggles a China couple faces when they marry for love with no house, substantial savings, or elaborate ceremonies, struck a chord with Chinese youths and become a major hit.
[16][17] In 2013, he starred as Tang Sanzang in Stephen Chow's fantasy blockbuster Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons,[18] which broke records to become the highest grossing Chinese movie then.
[20] The same year, Wen launched his directorial debut, Little Daddy on the small screen; which stars himself as the lead actor.
[citation needed] The same year, Wen made a successful comeback in 2016 with the hit television series, Young Marshal, a biopic based on the life of war hero Zhang Xueliang.