AceShowbiz - Adrien Brody is suing producers of his Italian thriller "Giallo" over allegations they failed to pay him and misled him about lucrative distribution rights. The Oscar-winner was promised a 'play-or-pay' deal to star in director Dario Argento's movie, meaning he would receive his $640,000 fee whether the film was made or not.

Once production started on the film, Brody claims he found out the movie was not properly funded and his fee had not been paid into a third-party holding account. He alleges that he signed a new contract and agreed to defer payment, but only if he was allowed to have "absolute right to withhold consent" of his image in the movie until he was paid.

But in the new lawsuit, filed at a California federal court last week, Brody claims he never received his fee and was misled about a $2 million distribution deal, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The "Pianist" star insists he asked producers to withhold the movie, as agreed, but to no avail.

He is seeking his $640,000 fee, plus $2 million for breach of contract, fraud, breach of fair dealing and misappropriation of his public image, as well as an injunction against the release of the film on DVD.