Ang Lee spies WWII China pic

Ang Lee (C) speaks at a seminar on boosting the island's film industry in Taipei May 4, 2006. The 'Brokeback Mountain' director will start work on the Chinese-language espionage thriller 'Lust, Caution' in the fall. (Richard Chung/Reuters)

CANNES - "Brokeback Mountain" director Ang Lee will start work on the Chinese-language espionage thriller "Lust, Caution" in the fall.

The project, set in World War II-era Shanghai, reunites him with "Brokeback" distributor Focus Features and his longtime collaborator, Focus CEO James Schamus, who will executive produce. The screenplay will be adapted from Eileen Chang's short story by Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" screenwriter Wang Hui-Ling.

"Ang is going to be making a very exciting film that's unlike anything he's done before," said Schamus, who's collaborated with Lee on nine features. "'Lust, Caution' is a uniquely Asian story which, in Ang's hands, will surprise and attract audiences around the world."

Lee won an Academy Award this year for directing the gay love story "Brokeback Mountain."