Gary Coleman, the diminutive ne’er-do-well child star of Diff’rent Strokes, has been hand picked by Martin Scorcese to helm Scorcese’s next picture, Albatross Junction, according to sources at the Hollywood Reporter. Coleman, 30, was most recently in the news in late August, when he pleaded not guilty to assault and battery charges for allegedly punching an autograph-seeking woman in the eye. We spoke to Coleman about his odd directorial developments over the telephone early Friday morning.

O’MALLEY: Gary. Brian.

COLEMAN: Hey, what’s up?

O: So what’s the scoop? Is it true?

C: It’s true. I’m aboard. We’re locked. We roll in March.