Comedian Jon Stewart will take a 12-week break from "The Daily Show" this summer to direct his own film.
At this time the film is titled "Rosewater" and will be an adaptation of the 2011 memoir "Then They Came For Me: A Family's Story of Love, Captivity and Survival" by Canadian-Iranian journalist Maziar Bahari. The story revolves around Bahari's trip to Iran in June 2009, where he was to report for the BBC on presidential elections in the country. Stewart himself wrote the script.
Ultimately Bahari wound up being held in an Iranian prison for four months, during which time he was brutally interrogated by a man he labeled "Rosewater," after his scent. Previously, Bahari had given an interview on "The Daily Show" to one of the show's fake correspondents. The Iranian government then added the footage to a collection of evidence implicating Bahari as a spy. Bahari was ultimately freed in October 2009 on $300,000 bail.
Stewart himself admits to some trepidation regarding the project.
"I am a television person who is accustomed to having a thought at 10 a.m. and having it out there at 6:30 p.m. and moving on, so this is a little scary, yes," Stewart told the New York Times.
The film will cost between $30 and $40 million to make. Casting for between 60 and 80 roles has just begun and filming could begin as early as June.
Hosting duties will be taken over by 35-year-old British comedian and "Daily Show" regular John Oliver. Guest hosts have been present on the show before, but only briefly. They included Stephen Colbert and Rob Corddry.
"Rosewater" marks Stewart's directorial debut. He has had some involvement in the movie industry, however. He appeared in movies before starting "The Daily Show." He also hosted the Academy Awards in 2006 and 2008. He said that part of the reason he chose to make the film was because of his relationship with Bahari.
"One of the reasons we are in this business is to challenge ourselves," Stewart said, "and I really connected to Maziar's story. It's a personal story but one with universal appeal about what it means to be free."
