Two-Time Oscar Winner Mahershala Ali Joins HBO’s ‘Task’ Mahershala Ali, the acclaimed actor who won Best Supporting Actor Oscars for his roles in Moonlight (2016) and Green Book (2018), has joined the cast of HBO’s acclaimed series Task for its second season. The network announced the addition of Ali to the show, which stars Mark Ruffalo as the central character, Tom Brandis, a priest-turned-FBI agent leading a task force to investigate a string of drughouse robberies. Ali will appear in the second season as a seasoned and respected DEA agent in Philadelphia, whose team will clash with Tom’s unit, according to Deadline. This marks Ali’s return to television after his recent role in the 2025 blockbuster Jurassic World: Rebirth, where he co-starred with Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey. Prior to that, he appeared in the Obama-produced dystopian thriller Leave the World Behind, alongside Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke. The actor’s upcoming projects include his anticipated role in Marvel’s Blade movie, which was first announced in 2019 but has faced multiple delays and is now on indefinite hold. His next film, Your Mother, Your Mother, Your Mother, is set for release later this year, though details about the plot remain undisclosed. Task has already garnered critical acclaim, earning nominations for several Critics’ Choice and Golden Globe awards in 2025, including Best Leading Actor in a TV series for Ruffalo. The series continues to build on its first season’s success, with Ali’s addition adding depth to the show’s complex narrative and expanding its ensemble cast. Ali’s return to the series highlights his ongoing presence in high-profile television projects, further solidifying his status as a versatile and respected performer in both film and television.#philadelphia #hbo #mark_ruffalo #mahershala_ali #task
HBO’s Crime Drama ‘Task’ Set for Season 2 with Mahershala Ali Joining Mark Ruffalo HBO’s critically acclaimed crime drama Task has confirmed that Mahershala Ali will join the cast for its second season, marking a significant development in the series. Ali, an Oscar-winning actor, will portray Eddie Barnes, a seasoned and respected DEA agent in Philadelphia whose team will clash with the unit led by Mark Ruffalo’s Agent Tom Brandis. The addition of Ali brings new depth to the show’s narrative, expanding the conflict between law enforcement agencies and the criminal underworld. Season two will see Ruffalo return as Agent Tom Brandis, who takes the lead of a new task force. However, as the operation progresses, the line between target and perpetrator becomes increasingly blurred, adding layers of tension and moral ambiguity to the storyline. Brad Ingelsby, the show’s executive producer, writer, and showrunner, will continue to helm the series, with Paul Lee and Mark Roybal joining as executive producers for wiip. Additional exec producers include Jeremiah Zagar, Ruffalo, and Ron Schmidt. Nicole Jordan-Webber and Karen Wacker will also serve as co-executive producers. The renewal of Task for a second season was initially uncertain, as HBO had previously stated the show was not intended as a limited series. However, sources close to the project reveal that the original plan was to produce only one season, similar to Ingelsby’s earlier HBO crime drama Mare of Eastown. After the first season’s successful premiere and strong critical reception, Ingelsby and Ruffalo felt there was more to explore with Brandis’s character, leading to the development of a second season arc. The renewal followed swiftly, with Ruffalo set to return for the new season. Ali’s casting was a natural fit, as he had already been on the shortlist for the role.#philadelphia #hbo #mark_ruffalo #mahershala_ali #task
