NEW YORK -- Director Ang Lee has found the two stars for his follow-up to "Brokeback Mountain." Tony Leung and film newcomer Tang Wei have landed lead roles in Focus Features' World War II espionage thriller "Lust, Caution."

Leung stars as a powerful Shanghai politician who becomes entangled with a young woman (Tang). Chinese pop idol and actor Wang Lee Hom also has been cast, as a student involved with the woman. In the short story written by the late Chinese author Eileen Chang, a main character tries to seduce and assassinate a Chinese spy working for the Japanese government.

Bill Kong will produce the project with the director. Another longtime Lee collaborator, Focus CEO James Schamus, will serve as executive producer.

Wang Hui-Ling (co-writer of Lee's "Eat Drink Man Woman" and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon") is adapting Chang's story for the screen.

Leung, repped by Endeavor, has gained international stardom in such films as Wong Kar-wai's "In the Mood for Love" and Zhang Yimou's "Hero." Wei has appeared in stage and screen performances.

"Paired with a great star like Tony Leung, 'Lust, Caution' will be a wonderful introduction for Tang Wei to the world film community," Schamus said. "She is a young actress of intelligence and major big-screen potential, and together they are the perfect protagonists for this thrilling story."

"It's exciting for me to be making a movie in China again and to finally be working with Tony Leung on a project," Lee said. "Tang Wei has already shown such versatility in her early work."