Task, an upcoming crime thriller starringMark Ruffalo, has an official release date and a brand-new trailer to go along with it. Alongside an impressive ensemble cast,Ruffalo plays an FBI agent who is tasked with stopping a string of violent robberies in the Philadelphia suburbs.
Created by Brad Ingelsby (Mare of Easttown),Taskpremieres on HBO and HBO Max on September 7 at 9:00 p.m. ET. The seven-episode season will then release on a weekly basis on the cable channel and streaming service. In addition to Ruffalo, the series stars Tom Pelphrey, Emilia Jones, Jamie McShane, Sam Keeley, Thuso Mbedu, Fabien Frankel, Alison Oliver, Raúl Castillo, Silvia Dionicio, Phoebe Fox, and Martha Plimpton. You can check out the official trailer below.
Taskis the latest offering from Ingelsby, who created and wroteMare of Easttown, which starred Kate Winslet. TheHBO drama miniseries, also set in Philadelphia, nabbed Winslet her second Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. A similar outcome might be in store for Ruffalo, who won his first Emmy Award in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie category for HBO’sI Know This Much Is True. The official logline reads:
Set in the working-class suburbs of Philadelphia, an FBI agent (Mark Ruffalo) heads a Task Force to put an end to a string of violent robberies led by an unsuspecting family man (Tom Pelphrey).
Mark Ruffalo Teases ‘Task’ and ‘Mare of Easttown’ Crossover
In early 2024, Mark Ruffalo talked toDeadlineabout HBO’sTask, which began filming a few months later. He plays a “badly damaged” FBI Agent that is “fighting for good,” who seems to have a complicated history that will be uncovered as his character investigates the string of Philadelphia robberies. That complexity will sound familiar to fans ofMare of Easttown, which follows a local detective whose personal struggles arise as she investigates the murder of a teenager. It seems Brad Ingelsby and co. may have noticed those parallels, as Ruffalo teased that the two shows take place in the “same universe,” and a crossover has already been discussed.
“At some point those two might run into each other in the future, that’s what they’re saying. It’s not set, nothing’s set. The writing’s amazing. Now let’s see if I can do it.”
Ingelsby has been asked abouta second season forMare of Easttownon several occasions over the past few years. In late 2024, the series creator was open to writing a new storyline for the beloved detective, but concluded that it will only happen if another strong, emotional narrative comes to mind. “I want to give Mare some space before we build up another emotional trauma. That’s hard to jump back into,” Ingelsby teased. WithTaskon the way, it’s clear thatMare of EasttownSeason 2 is on the backburner, but could be revisited now with a potential crossover storyline.
