Fans of HBO’s It: Welcome to Derry may have been surprised to learn that the series’ co-showrunner, Brad Caleb Kane, has a deep-rooted connection to one of Disney’s most beloved animated classics. Long before becoming a successful television writer and producer, Kane was the singing voice of Aladdin in the 1992 animated film—but it’s a role he almost didn’t take.

In an exclusive conversation with PEOPLE, Kane, now 52, revealed that when he was first approached about Aladdin, his heart was set on an entirely different path: film school and touring with his grunge band at the height of the early ’90s music scene.

Brad Caleb Kane Didn’t Want to Be an Actor

Despite lending his voice to one of the most iconic Disney characters of all time, Kane says acting was never his ultimate goal.

“I was really getting out of the industry,” Kane explains, recalling his senior year of high school. “I had just gotten into NYU Film School, and I was very much a film kid obsessed with Stephen King and Steven Spielberg.”

Having spent years doing commercials in New York City, Kane was eager to leave acting behind. His passions at the time revolved around studying film, watching horror movies, and playing music—particularly with his grunge band, which had several gigs lined up across the country.

Auditioning for Aladdin Almost Felt Like an Afterthought

Kane says he initially auditioned for Aladdin without fully understanding the significance of the project—or the people involved.

“I met with Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, but I didn’t even know who they were at the time,” he admits. “They had me sing a song, which I later realized was ‘Proud of Your Boy,’ and then I just went off and lived my life.”

Months passed without any follow-up. By the time Kane heard back, he was already a freshman at NYU and fully immersed in the grunge lifestyle—touring, wearing flannel, crowd surfing, and sleeping on friends’ floors from Chicago to Pittsburgh.

“I was a different guy,” Kane says. “And I did not want to be an actor.”

A Phone Call That Changed Everything

Kane recalls getting a call from his mother while on the road with his band.

“She said, ‘As soon as you do your first gig in Chicago, you have to jump on a plane and come back. Alan Menken wants you to sing with Lea Salonga,’” Kane remembers. “I told her, ‘Mom, I don’t want to do that.’”

Reluctantly, Kane returned to New York, where he sang “A Whole New World” once with Lea Salonga, who voiced Princess Jasmine. Soon after, he received the call that would define an unexpected chapter of his life: he had been cast as Aladdin’s singing voice, alongside Scott Weinger, who provided the speaking voice.

Disney Stardom Before the Disney Renaissance

Even after landing the role, Kane admits he wasn’t overly excited.

“There was no golden age of Disney yet,” he explains. “The Little Mermaid had come out, Beauty and the Beast was still on the way—but Aladdin hadn’t become what it would eventually become.”

For Kane, the experience consisted of just a few recording sessions before he returned to his life as a student and musician.

“I sang a couple of songs over three recording sessions,” he says. “And it became what it became—this incredible legacy.”

Working with Howard Ashman Left a Lasting Impression

One of Kane’s most meaningful memories from the project was working with legendary lyricist Howard Ashman, who passed away in 1991 due to complications from AIDS-related illness.

“Howard was there, and he was ill at the time,” Kane recalls. “But he was an incredibly lovely man. I was obsessed with Little Shop of Horrors and already understood what a genius he was.”

Looking back, Kane says Ashman’s influence—and legacy—has only grown in significance.

“I’ve been fortunate to work with legitimate creative geniuses, and I don’t take that for granted,” he adds.

From Disney Singer to Acclaimed Showrunner

Though Kane went on to sing in two Aladdin animated sequels, he eventually pivoted away from performing and into writing and producing. His career has since included work on Fringe, Black Sails, Tokyo Vice, It: Welcome to Derry, and the upcoming Crystal Lake, a Friday the 13th prequel series.

Now married to actress Sarah Thompson and a father of two daughters, Kane reflects fondly on his Disney legacy.

“It’s a nice thing to look back on,” he says. “It’s something my kids love, something I’m proud of. It gives me a warm glow.”