The Academy Award-nominated actor Jesse Eisenberg is suing a film company for false advertising about his involvement.

Mr Eisenberg can be seen for less than five minutes on screen in the horror film Camp Hell. He filmed his scenes in just one day and claims he was not paid well for the work.

He filmed it four years ago, before he became a globally-sought star for his turn as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network.

But people planning to buy the DVD would assume he also starred in the horror film, because his face is plastered over the marketing campaign.

Mr Eisenberg has begun legal action against the Lionsgate studio for using his likeness without consent, and is seeking $3 million.

"The distributors are now attempting to fraudulently deceive and mislead the public and reap millions of dollars by capitalising on Eisenberg's newfound fame," the lawsuit said.

"Eisenberg's reputation and goodwill with the public and his fans will be severely harmed if they are duped into purchasing a copy."

Another film Mr Eisenberg appeared in before he became famous was Holy Rollers, a tale of Chasidic drug smugglers. The film made only $3 million at the US box office, according to the site Rotten Tomatoes.