Taiwanese director Ang Lee, who helped propel Zhang Ziyi to international stardom with the box office hit "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," may cast the actress again in his upcoming Chinese thriller, a news report said.

Director Ang Lee (R) hugs his wife Jane Lin after winning the Oscar for best director for "Brokeback Mountain" at the 78th annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, California March 5, 2006.  [Reuters]

Lee's assistant Li Liangshan confirmed that Zhang was among a number of Chinese actors who are in talks to star in Lee's new movie "Lust, Caution," the Chinese-language news Web site Sina.com reported Friday.

According to the report, Li did not deny that Zhang has been chosen for the role of a revolutionary youth. Li only said that moviemakers were "in many talks with many Chinese actors and have not yet made a decision," according to Sina.com.

"Lust, Caution," set in World War II Shanghai, is an adaptation of a short story by famed late Chinese novelist Eileen Chang. The movie will be made in Chinese, marking Lee's return to Chinese-language cinema after making "The Hulk" and "Brokeback Mountain," which won him a best director Oscar this year.

"Action movies like 'Crouching Tiger' are not as hot as they were in the overseas market now," Lee's assistant Li was quoted as saying. "That's why Ang Lee has had new thoughts about subjects for his new films.

"'Lust' is a novel he really likes, and he spent a long time preparing for it before deciding to film it," Li added.