HONG KONG (AP) _ Oscar-winning Taiwanese director Ang Lee was in Taipei on Wednesday casting for his new film, the spy thriller "Lust, Caution," Lee's brother said.

Best director winner Ang Lee poses with his Oscar at the 78th annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, March 5, 2006. Lee won for his work on "Brokeback Mountain." [Reuters]

A news report also said the director has met with Chinese stars Zhang Ziyi and Zhou Xun.

U.S.-based Lee plans to spend two days in his home island, his brother Lee Kang told The Associated Press. The younger Lee, a film distributor, is helping his brother with casting arrangements.

He declined to say which actors Lee planned to meet.

Lee Kang said his brother plans to start filming in September, with filming to take place in Hong Kong and Shanghai.

"Lust, Caution" is an adaptation of a novel by famed writer Eileen Chang.

Director Lee was quoted as saying he wants to cast a Taiwanese actress to give the island's struggling film industry a boost.

"I want to do something for the Taiwan cinema. If I can't find anyone this time, I've done my best," the Chinese news Web site Sina.com quoted Lee as saying.

Sina.com said Lee, who won an Oscar for best director this year for the gay romance "Brokeback Mountain," plans to meet with Taiwanese actress and talkshow host Hsu Hsi Di, widely known by her nickname "Xiao S."

The Apple Daily newspaper reported Lee said he has already met with "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Memoirs of a Geisha" star Zhang, along with Zhou, the reigning Hong Kong Film Awards best actress.

Lee said, "'Lust, Caution' will be carried by the female lead. She starts out as an innocent girl who become glamorous and mature after a few years of trials. ... The actress must have looks, acting skill and aura," Sina.com reported.