Jon Stewart taking summer hiatus from "The Daily Show" to direct film

Jon Stewart will be taking a break from "The Daily Show" this summer to direct 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.

Stewart is taking the break from "The Daily Show" to direct and produce the film "Rosewater," an adaptation of BBC journalist Maziar Bahari's memoir "Then They Came For Me: A Family's Story of Love, Captivity and Survival." He also wrote the film's screenplay, according to Deadline.

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.

Stewart has hosted "The Daily Show" since 1999, when he took over for Craig Kilborn. He has also appeared in films including "Big Daddy," "The Faculty" and "Half Baked" and hosted the Academy Awards in 2008.