Adrien Brody sued the makers of a thriller film for more than $2 million, claiming he has not been fully paid for the project and the movie is being released in the US without his permission.

The Academy Award-winning actor sued the makers of Giallo in federal court in Los Angeles, but an emergency petition to stop the film’s DVD release was denied.

Sales of the thriller set in Turin, Italy, began yesterday, although a lawyer for the film-makers said it has been available for rent since early September. Giallo was shot in 2008.

A judge ruled Mr Brody can still seek an injunction against the film’s sale, but must first notify the film-makers.

Mr Brody claims he is still owed $640,000 for starring in the film and that its release is likely to cost him at least $2 million in damages.

In a lawsuit and a sworn declaration, the actor said the film’s producers lied to him about financing and vastly overstated how much the film’s Italian distribution rights were worth.

The filings said Mr Brody’s contract allows him to withhold his likeness from the film until he is paid, but the film-makers have ignored his demands.

“We respectfully dispute his allegations,” said A. Raymond Hamrick III, an attorney for defendants Hannibal Pictures and UK-based Giallo Productions Ltd.

Dr Hamrick said the film-makers have been trying to work out a deal with Mr Brody for several months but the allegations in his lawsuit are not consistent with his contract.

Martin Barab, who is also representing the film companies, said Mr Brody had been paid nearly $1 million for his role.

“Hannibal and Giallo have acted with the utmost integrity,” Dr Hamrick said.

The lawsuit was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter. Mr Brody, 37, won an Oscar in 2003 for his role in The Pianist.