Stewart taking 'Daily Show' break to direct film

The Associated Press, Tuesday, March 5, 2013, 12:41pm (PST)

NEW YORK (AP) — Comedy Central says Jon Stewart will take a break from "The Daily Show" starting in June to direct and produce his first feature film.

The network said Tuesday that correspondent-writer John Oliver will host the fake news show for the eight weeks of original episodes scheduled during Stewart's hiatus. The British-born Oliver has been a "Daily Show" regular since 2006.

Stewart is expected back in the anchor chair shortly after Labor Day, Sept. 2.

The film, titled "Rosewater," was written by Stewart and is based on a book by Iranian journalist Maziar Bahari.

London resident Bahari was falsely accused of being a spy and imprisoned by the Iranian government in 2009 while covering Iran's presidential election. Before being jailed, he was interviewed in Iran by "Daily Show" correspondent Jason Jones.