BEIJING, May 25 -- "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. His longtime collaborator, Focus chief executive officer James Schamus, will be executive producer. The screenplay will be adapted from Zhang Ailing's short story by Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" screenwriter Wang Hui-ling.

    Wang co-wrote Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Eat Drink Man Woman."

    Bill Kong, who produced "Crouching Tiger," will co-produce the new film with the director. Kong has produced several films released by Focus Features, including Jet Li's "Fearless" and Zhang Yimou's "Hero" and "House of Flying Daggers."

    "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."