Joseph Zeng

Joseph Zeng didn't ask for permission to enter the industry. In 2014, he was part of Fresh Geek on Ice, a group of idols that served more as a showcase than a final destination for its members.

But the music was a toll.

He left the group just one year later because his real goal was on the film sets in Beijing. He had no formal training in drama, but his physical presence and unusually expressive gaze immediately opened the doors to major Chinese television productions.

The Risk of Classic Heroes

In 2019, he took on the role of Zhang Wuji in Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Sabre. It was a risky decision. Readers of Jin Yong's novels rarely forgive young actors who try to inherit characters that are part of the country's collective imagination.

The initial reviews were brutal.

He was criticized for his lack of technical experience in the fight scenes, but audiences ultimately accepted his vulnerable take on the hero. The series racked up more than 7,000 million views on digital platforms during its original broadcast run.

His work in Ultimate Note in 2020 changed the industry's perception of his ability to carry complex storylines. Playing Wu Xie required a mix of naivety and emotional exhaustion that Zeng handled with a composure no one had seen from him until then.

And that's when he began choosing projects with a different logic.

In 2023, he starred in Mysterious Lotus Casebook alongside Cheng Yi. The production was shot in freezing temperatures at the Hengdian studios and required sword choreography that the actor performed without relying systematically on stunt doubles. Critics noted that his character served as an emotional anchor in a mystery plot where the pace gave viewers no breathing room.

Budgets and Career Control

For 2024, filming Guardians of the Dafeng took up most of his professional schedule. It is one of Tencent Video's most expensive productions, with a budget that exceeds the usual standards for Chinese historical fantasy.

So his fee has risen in direct proportion to his advertising profitability. Zeng charges a per-project fee that places him at the top tier of actors born after 1995. But his interest goes beyond being in front of the camera: he has started getting involved in post-production to understand how the final edit affects his performance.

Because he knows that physical beauty has an expiration date in the Asian market. In 2025, he plans to wrap up his involvement in three major period productions that are already in pre-production. His exclusive contract with his current agency expires in 2027.