Stewart is expected back in the anchor chair shortly after Labor Day. Stewart taking 'Daily Show' leave

NEW YORK — 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.

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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.