John Stewart replacement, John Oliver, certainly has some big shoes to fill, despite the Lilliputian host's small frame, Oliver is sitting behind the desk of one of the most popular names in entertainment, and an icon to teenagers and 20-somethings everywhere who grew up watching Stewart after he took over the satirical Comedy Central news show from Craig Kilborn in 1999.

The Hollywood Reporter revealed the choice of Oliver to replace Stewart while he takes an extended, 12-week sabbatical from the show starting in June in order to make his own directorial debut when he begins shooting Rosewater.

The Daily Show correspondent, John Oliver, will sit at the desk as the host of the popular Comedy Central half hour, which airs new episodes every Monday through Thursday.

Oliver has been a writer and a presenter for The Daily Show since 2006, and his wry wit has been a highlight for the show. Oliver's sudden promotion could signal other changes at the popular show.

Former correspondents, Steve Carell, Ed Helms, and Stephen Colbert have all gone on to have substantial movie careers and--in the case of Colbert--host their own shows. Stephen Colbert's The Colbert Report follows The Daily Show every weeknight, but Friday, at 11:30 p.m. EST, and Colbert has won Emmy's since the spin-off show started airing.

Carell has gone on to star in the popular NBC television show, The Office, and has starred in feature films like Crazy, Stupid, Love and Seeking a Friend for the End of the World with Keira Knightly.

Helms is a part of the incredibly lucrative Hangover franchise, which is set to debut it's third installment later this summer. He's also a series regular on The Office, which Carrell has now left.

Stewart is taking the time off to make his feature directorial debut with the film, Rosewater. The former standup comedian also wrote the screenplay for the adaptation of BBC journalist, Maziar Bahari's New York Times bestselling memoir, Then They Came for Me: A Family's Story of Love, Captivity and Survival.

The memoir tells the story of his 2009 arrest in Iran while covering an election protest. He was tortured for the next 118 days.

Oddlot Entertainment will finance and produce Stewart's feature, with the Emmy-winning host producing along with Gigi Pritzker and Scott Rudin. Eli Bush will executive produce.

Stewart is scheduled to miss 12 weeks starting in June when John Oliver takes over.