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Martin Crook/Comedy CentralJon Stewart is taking temporary leave of The Daily Show.
The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that the host of 14 years will be away from Comedy Central’s late-night stalwart for 12 weeks during the summer, starting in June — including eight weeks while the show produces new episodes.
In Stewart’s place, Daily Show correspondent John Oliver will sit at the desk of the series, which tapes and airs original episodes Monday through Thursday.
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Stewart is taking the break to make his feature directorial debut with Rosewater. Stewart also wrote the screenplay for the adaptation of BBC journalist Maziar Bahari‘s New York Times best-selling memoir Then They Came for Me: A Family’s Story of Love, Captivity and Survival.
Bahari’s book tells the story of his 2009 arrest by the Iranian government while covering an election protest. He subsequently was interrogated and tortured during the next 118 days.
OddLot Entertainment and will produce and finance the feature, with Stewart, Gigi Pritzker and Scott Rudin also producing. Eli Bush will executive produce.
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart has long been the flagship property of Comedy Central. Stewart’s work on the show and spinoff The Colbert Report has earned him dozens of Emmy nominations, and last year he accepted his 10th consecutive Emmy for best variety series.
Prior to taking over The Daily Show from Craig Kilborn in 1999, Stewart had a career as an actor, with roles in such films as Big Daddy, Playing by Heart, The Faculty and Half Baked.
Stewart is repped by UTA.
Email: Michael.OConnell@THR.com; Twitter: @MikeyLikesTV
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