Chinese Mainland actress Liu Yifei will likely be named the lead actress in Ang Lee's upcoming spy thriller, "Lust, Caution", a news report said Thursday.

Chinese actress Liu Yifei, who is recently popular for her role in "The Return of the Condor Hero," appeared in her latest photo album. [CRI]

The Chinese news Web site Sina.com reported people close to the production had said saying Lee has decided on a female lead, and Shanghai film industry insiders say Liu is the favorite.

"Lust, Caution" is due to start filming in Shanghai and Hong Kong in the fall.

Sina.com said Liu, whose credits include two TV adaptations of novels by the famed martial arts writer Louis Cha, has visited Hong Kong and Taiwan to lobby filmmakers for the part.

Earlier, Lee's assistant confirmed they had approached Cannes best actor winner Tony Leung Chiu-wai about a part, but his participation hadn't been finalized "Lust, Caution," adapted from a short story by famed Chinese writer Eileen Chang, marks Lee's return to Chinese-language cinema for the first time since his box office martial arts hit "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" in 2000.

In the meantime, Lee has made "The Hulk" and the gay romance "Brokeback Mountain," which won him a best director Oscar earlier this year.

Calls and an e-mail to Lee's assistant Thursday went unanswered. Lee's offices in New York didn't immediately respond to a call.

Observers are closely watching Lee's casting choices to see if he will produce another female star. "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'' helped propel Zhang Ziyi to stardom. Zhang went on to star in Hollywood movies like "Rush Hour 2" and "Memoirs of a Geisha."