On August 22, 2025, at 09:42 AM +07, anticipation is peaking for a new detective thriller that promises to outshine Mare of Easttown with its raw intensity. Titled Task, this seven-part series, set to premiere on HBO on September 7, 2025, stars Mark Ruffalo as an FBI agent inspired by a real priest-turned-informant. Directed by Brad Ingelsby, the creator of Mare of Easttown, Task plunges into a chilling cold case of suburban violence, buried guilt, and a haunting mystery that still grips the FBI. Fans of Prisoners, Zodiac, and Nightcrawler are already hailing it as their next obsession.
Ruffalo plays Tom Brandis, a former priest turned FBI agent tasked with solving a string of violent home invasions in Philadelphia’s working-class suburbs. The character draws from Ingelsby’s uncle, a priest who aided the FBI after leaving the clergy, and a real informant’s role in mass casualty investigations. The plot thickens as Brandis uncovers a personal connection to the suspect, Robbie Prendergrast (Tom Pelphrey), a family man turned robber, forcing him to confront his own demons—faith lost to trauma. “He was sent to catch a killer but ended up chasing his own past,” Ruffalo told Variety, admitting the role’s emotional toll.
The series’ first-look images, released via Vanity Fair in May 2025, depict gritty stakeouts and tense family scenes, with a cast including Martha Plimpton and Thuso Mbedu amplifying the drama. The real-life inspiration—a priest informant’s 1990s collaboration with the FBI on a serial killer case—lends authenticity, with Ingelsby weaving historical details into a fictional narrative. The cold case’s unresolved nature, hinted at in trailers with Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here,” promises a haunting finale.
Social media is buzzing, with X users like @CrimeDramaFan posting, “Task looks darker than Mare—Ruffalo’s intensity is unreal!” The show’s 7-episode arc, airing weekly, builds on Mare of Easttown’s success, which won four Emmys in 2021. Critics anticipate a similar impact, with early buzz suggesting a 90%+ Rotten Tomatoes score. Fans of psychological thrillers are drawn to Brandis’ moral struggle, mirroring Prisoners’ Jake Gyllenhaal, while the suburban setting evokes Zodiac’s unease.
As of today, August 22, 2025, at 09:42 AM +07, Task is poised to redefine detective dramas, blending faith, violence, and redemption. Will Brandis solve the case or lose himself? With Ruffalo’s career-best performance and Ingelsby’s real-life inspiration, this series is set to haunt viewers long after its September 7 debut. Watch the trailer below to brace for the descent.
