Mahershala Ali and Mark Ruffalo Team Up for Season 2 of HBO’s ‘Task’
Season Two of HBO’s Crime Drama Promises New Twists and a Familiar Face
In a significant shift for its acclaimed crime drama, HBO is set to launch the second season of the series featuring Mark Ruffalo as Agent Tom Brandis. Operating a new task force, Brandis will navigate complex operations where distinguishing the target becomes increasingly challenging. The season continues under the leadership of creator and executive producer Brad Ingelsby, who is joined by fellow executive producers Paul Lee and Mark Roybal from wiip, Jeremiah Zagar, Ruffalo, and Ron Schmidt. Nicole Jordan-Webber and Karen Wacker will contribute as co-executive producers.
Although HBO maintains that the series was never intended as a limited run, sources familiar with the production indicate that the original plan mirrored Ingelsby’s other hit series, Mare of Easttown, which was confined to a single season. After wrapping up the first season, both Ingelsby and Ruffalo recognized untapped potential in Brandis’ character, prompting the development of a second season storyline. Following strong viewership and critical acclaim for the inaugural season, the renewal was swiftly approved, with Ruffalo rejoining the cast.
However, the transition into the new season brings challenges, particularly with the departure of co-star Tom Pelphrey, whose character met a dramatic end in the first season. Acknowledging Pelphrey’s standout performance, producers decided to cast a high-caliber replacement for the role, choosing to return to a familiar face from another popular HBO series.
Leading that charge is Mahershala Ali, known for his role in the third season of True Detective. After reviewing the initial script and meeting with Ingelsby, Ali committed to joining Ruffalo in the upcoming season. This time, Ali will portray a rival DEA agent aligned with law enforcement, in contrast to Pelphrey’s character, who was on the opposite side of the law.
In addition to his work on HBO, Ali has a busy year ahead in film, with the much-anticipated Your Mother, Your Mother, Your Mother set to release later this fall. Written and directed by Bassam Tariq, the dramatic thriller will be distributed by MGM Studios and Amazon.
Ali recently starred in Universal’s highest-grossing film of 2025, Jurassic World: Rebirth, alongside Scarlett Johansson. Furthermore, in 2023, he gained acclaim for his role opposite Julia Roberts in Netflix’s successful film Leave the World Behind, which garnered over 121 million views in its premiere month.
Ali is represented by Cognition, CAA, and Sloane, Offer, Weber, and Dern.
