Fil-Am actor to play Young Simba in ‘The Lion King’ Broadway musical

An 11-year-old Filipino actor is set to star in the Broadway musical production of “The Lion King.”

Vince Ermita is set to make his Broadway debut — and his dream come true — when he plays "Young Simba."

Proudly sharing his headshot, Vince made a roll call of people and thanked them "for helping me achieve my dream!"

"I'm so excited!" He wrote all caps.

According to a Pep.ph report, the part initially went to another actor, but Vince got another shot because of the pandemic.

"He actually auditioned when he was nine years old,” Vince’s mother, Anne, told Pep.

“Out of 3,000 kids, he made it to Top 7. But at that time, he was too small for the role and only four got picked. Unfortunately, those who made it didn’t finish nor performed the play and outgrew the role because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” she added.

In the end, Vince got to audition again for his “dream role” and nailed it.

"All submissions this time were virtual because of COVID-19. He did it in his hotel room in St. George, Utah,” Anne was quoted as saying.

"With the help of his voice teachers Amelia Demayo, acting coach Ethan Haberfield, dance coach Janine Molinari, his agent Mallory and Leorah, he made it."

Vince had also been cast in the musical production of “The School of Rock,” but Pep said he decided to focus on rehearsals for “The Lion King.”

In "The Lion King" website, Vince is described to be "so excited about making his Broadway debut!" 

"He's 11 years old and a proud Filipino," it continued.

"The Lion King," the world's 3rd longest-running Broadway show, will return to Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre on September 14, 2021.

Learn more about the cast and production here.

— Margaret Claire Layug/LA, GMA News