The upcoming Sunday night HBO series, Task, is a gritty crime drama created by Brad Ingelsby, who also brought us Mare of Easttown. Like Mare, Task delves into themes of life, death, love, hatred, crime, and justice, all set against the backdrop of Delco, a gritty suburb of Philadelphia. However, Task shifts focus to a wider array of characters grappling with their personal struggles.
Task follows two tormented family men whose lives are on a tragic collision course. FBI agent Tom Brandis, played by Mark Ruffalo, is pulled from the typical Career Fair scene by his boss, Kathleen McGinty (Martha Plimpton). Together, they lead a special task force investigating a string of home invasions. Meanwhile, Robbie Prendergrast (Tom Pelfrey), a compassionate garbage man, finds himself breaking into the gang’s hideout shortly after a drug deal, all in a desperate attempt to provide a better life for his kids. Things, unsurprisingly, spiral out of control for Robbie and his associates, while Tom and his inexperienced team scramble to solve the case.
So, when can viewers catch Task? Is it related to Mare of Easttown? Here’s what you need to know: Task will officially debut on HBO and HBO Max.
Is Task premiering tonight (8/31/25)?
No, the show Task isn’t airing on HBO yet.
But if you’re interested in a gripping Delco detective story, HBO is marathoning Mare of Easttown tonight.
When does Task come out? Release Date:
Task is set to premiere next week on HBO and HBO Max, specifically on Sunday, September 7th, at 9 p.m.
How many episodes are there in Task? Episode Guide:
There will be seven episodes in total, as it’s expected to be a limited series. The first episode drops on September 7th, with new episodes airing weekly until October 19th.
- Episode 1 “Intersection”: Sunday, September 7th
- Episode 2 “Family Statement”: Sunday, September 14th
- Episode 3: “Those Who Are Stronger Than Forgiveness”: Sunday, September 21st
- Episode 4 “All Roads”: Sunday, September 27th
- Episode 5 “Vagrants”: Sunday, October 5th
- Episode 6: “Beyond the Fraud and the Idea of the Right, There’s a River”: Sunday, October 12th
- Episode 7: “Never-Little Voice”: Sunday, October 19th
What is Task about? Is it a spinoff or sequel to Mare of Easttown?
Similar to Ingelsby’s previous HBO limited series, Mare of Easttown, Task is also set in the working-class suburbs of Philadelphia. In this narrative, Tom Brandis, the FBI agent portrayed by Mark Ruffalo, is in charge of a task force looking into a series of violent home invasions and robberies. Tom Pelfrey plays Robbie Prendergrast, a devoted family man entangled in orchestrating these break-ins at ganghouses to secure a better future for his kids.
Although Task is set in the same Delco world as Mare of Easttown, they are distinct shows, each showcasing local culture, including Wawa and Philadelphia sports teams.
Cast Information for Task Season 1:
Alongside Mark Ruffalo and Tom Pelfrey, the cast includes actors from various projects like Coda, Saltburn, Underground Railroad, and House of the Dragon. The ensemble features Mark Ruffalo, Tom Pelfrey, Emilia Jones, Jamie McShane, Sam Keeley, Thor Mudeu, Fabian Frankel, Allison Oliver, Raul Castillo, Sylvia Dionicio, Phoebe Fox, and Martha Plimpton.
How to watch Task:
Task will be available exclusively on HBO, so viewers will need HBO or HBO Max to watch it starting on September 7th.
If you don’t have HBO Max, it’s currently available for $16.99 a month or $9.99 a month with ads. The ad-free subscription is $20.99 per month and allows you to download up to 100 titles.
Looking for a good deal? An annual subscription might be worth considering, as it offers two months free. The ad-free plan costs $169.99 per year, while the ultimate plan is $209.99 annually. An annual subscription with ads is $99.99.
Additionally, you can bundle HBO Max with existing Hulu and Disney+ subscriptions.
