Umpteen years after he became a household name in Australia (I believe the film to put him on the AFI sonar here was “The Year My Voice Broke” in the late ’80s), Ben Mendelsohn has finally cracked America – and he has the wonderful “Animal Kingdom” to thank for the break stateside!

Mendelsohn, who had given the U.S a shot before (he unsuccessfully tried out for the role of ‘The Tooth Fairy’ in Brett Ratner’s “Red Dragon” many years ago) but seemed to have cooled on the idea of cracking that market over there in recent years, has snagged a plum role in the new Joel Schumacher pic “Trespass”, says Variety. The film stars (fellow Aussie) Nicole Kidman and also Nicolas Cage, whom Mendelsohn worked with on the Oz-lensed “Knowing”.

The story, written by Karl Gajdusek and Eli Richbourg, centers on a husband and wife (Cage and Kidman) taken hostage by four brutal perpetrators seeking easy cash. Complications ensue amid the unexpected discovery of betrayal and deception.

Mendelsohn would be ideal as the villain, but it’s not yet known which role he’s been playing.

Dash Mihok (“The Punisher War Zone”) and Liana Liberato (“Trust”) have also jumped aboard the film, filming next month in Louisiana.