AceShowbiz - A U.S. judge has banned the makers of Italian thriller "Giallo" from using Adrien Brody's image - until the actor is paid for his role. 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.

In a lawsuit filed at a California federal court in October, Brody claimed 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.

U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer ruled in Brody's favor on Monday, November 22 ordering filmmakers to halt distributing, marketing or selling the thriller in America until the fee was settled.