'Mare of Easttown' Fans: The Show's Creator Is Back With Brand New Crime Drama 'Task'

Yahoo

04-06-2025

Following the acclaimed Mare of Easttown, creator Brad Ingelsby is back with Task, a new HBO Max — and yes, this series is set Pennsylvania too. Inspired by his uncle, a former priest, and insights from the FBI, Task stars Mark Ruffalo as an ex-priest turned FBI agent investigating drug-house robberies in Philly's suburbs. The show also follows a garbage man with a double life. With Ingelsby's signature attention to detail and a compelling premise, Task is set to premiere on HBO Max later this year. Here's what you need to know!
Mare of Easttown came out with a bang in 2021. The HBO series, which followed a detective investigating a small-town Pennsylvania murder, was nominated for 16 Emmys and took home four awards.
Aside from Kate Winslet's acclaimed portrayal of Mare Sheehan, the show, created and written by Brad Ingelsby, was also revered for its detail-oriented portrayal of the titular town. This is precisely what inspired Brad Ingelsby to make his latest HBO series, Task, and set it in his home state again.
"It's where I live now, it's where I grew up, it's where I was raised, and it's where a lot of the important relationships in my life were formed. It's also a place that I feel like I can speak about and write about with some conviction and authority," he detailed.
The show centers on a former priest-turned-FBI agent named Tom Brandis, played by Mark Ruffalo, who leads a specialized task force investigating a wave of drug-house robberies in the working-class suburbs outside of Philadelphia. As the case unfolds, the story also pans to Robbie Prendergrast, a local garbage man leading a double life as he conducts heists on drug houses. Robbie's role is taken on by Tom Pelphrey.
According to Brad, the whole premise of Task was actually inspired by his real-life uncle, who used to be a priest. And while speaking with his uncle about the priesthood, he came to learn that sometimes, clergymen are asked to assist the FBI. This led him to create Tom Brandis' character, a man who lived through events that shook his faith.
As for where Robbie Prendergrast's storyline originated, Brad got the idea while speaking with a source at the FBI. Both garbagemen and mail carriers are "people that know a lot about your life, but you kind of ignore them. They're invisible. But they get your bills and your mail, and they go through your trash," he explained.
The Task cast is stacked, including names like:
Mark Ruffalo
Tom Pelphrey
Emilia Jones
Fabien Frankel
Raúl Castillo
Thuso Mbedu
Jamie McShane
Alison Oliver
Sam Keeley.
The production is reportedly more complex than Mare of Easttown, too, but what Brad cares most about is doing Pennsylvania justice by getting the details right.
That's why he consulted with various technical advisers, such as the Easttown Township chief of police, an FBI agent who really was a priest in the past, and even someone who'd previously been in a biker gang.
"It gives the audience a sense of comfort that the people who have told this story know these people, and they care about them enough to make them really layered and honest characters. And that, to me, is important. Because I have to live here, so I'd better get it right," Brad said.
Yes! HBO Max just dropped yesterday — and it's safe to say this show is gonna be pretty intense after watching!
Task is supposed to premiere on HBO Max later this year, but an exact release date hasn't been confirmed yet. In the meantime, you can stream Season 1 of Mare of Easttown on Max now.
You can stream Task on HBO Max once it premieres.
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