The Secret Behind Mark Ruffalo's Crime Drama Revealed by 'Mare of Easttown' Creator [Exclusive]

The Return of Brad Ingelsby with 'Task'

After four long years, Brad Ingelsby is making a highly anticipated return to television with his latest project, 'Task'. This September marks the premiere of the new crime drama miniseries that features MCU veteran and Oscar nominee Mark Ruffalo as an FBI agent leading a task force against a string of violent robberies in the working-class suburbs of Philadelphia. He faces off against Mank star Tom Pelphrey, who plays Robbie Prendergrast, an unsuspecting family man and garbage man who is the mastermind behind the crimes.

The show dives into the lives of the people at the center of the investigation, exploring familial relationships, trauma, and humanity through its expansive cast. Both Tom and Robbie have their own troubles to deal with before their inevitable collision. There are no clear-cut good or bad guys here—just morally complex characters trying to get by.

Ingelsby drew inspiration from two main sources for 'Task'. One was his uncle, a former priest, and the idea of faith and losing faith. The other was a conversation with a tech advisor about the "invisible" people who know more about us than most, such as mailmen and trash men. These ideas informed the character of Robbie, who is portrayed as someone who has made too many mistakes in his life and is now trying to make do with the family he has left.

Faith becomes an overarching theme for both leads in 'Task', according to the creator. While Tom is shaken by a life-changing tragedy, Robbie has a different understanding of faith that Ingelsby believes makes them perfect opposing forces. The show is set against the backdrop of Pennsylvania, a favorite setting for Ingelsby due to his upbringing in the state. Shooting there was important to ensure authenticity in the portrayal of the locale.

Mark Ruffalo and the Starry Ensemble

Landing Ruffalo was critical for Ingelsby in bringing his story to life. The actor has delivered impressive and layered performances over the years, from Foxcatcher to Spotlight and his recent Oscar-nominated turn in Poor Things. He has also taken on more television roles, including starring in the acclaimed Hal & Harper.

Task wasn't literally made with Ruffalo in mind, but Ingelsby described how the actor stood out as an obvious fit for the complex role of Tom. As soon as the character was written, it was clear that Ruffalo could bring depth and authenticity to the role. He added a bit of levity and warmth to a script that is otherwise very heavy. Ingelsby encouraged Ruffalo to bring humor to the part, highlighting his ability to find comedy in the mundane details of life.

Ruffalo's improvisation and ability to add human moments to the story were also notable. His idea of "Eat the Hershey Kiss" was one of the many gifts he brought to the role. Ingelsby expressed gratitude for Ruffalo's performance, emphasizing how well he fits the part.

A Richly-Written Ensemble

Ruffalo is just one small piece in an expansive cast alongside Pelphrey. Emilia Jones, Jamie McShane, Sam Keeley, Thuso Mbedu, Fabien Frankel, Alison Oliver, Raúl Castillo, Silvia Dionicio, Phoebe Fox, and Martha Plimpton all have notable roles to play in Task. Ingelsby says the majority of the characters revolve around three groups, two of which are people connected to or working alongside Tom or Robbie.

Each episode of Task is designed to draw everyone closer together until the inevitable collision. Ingelsby wanted to separate Task from his previous miniseries by focusing on the constantly looming confrontation between characters viewers have come to know and love. He pitched the show as a collision course, where the tension comes from hoping that the characters will survive the situation they're in.

Character-Driven Storytelling

Ingelsby sees himself as a character writer rather than a story writer. He believes in creating morally complex characters that fans want to see make it out of tense situations unscathed. Each new development in the show is about going one layer deeper with everyone, from Tom and Robbie to their families, co-workers, and beyond.

The goal is to slightly upend what people know about a character with each episode in ways that stay true to who they are, but also challenge everyone at home. Ingelsby finds joy in writing characters with dimension, allowing audiences to experience complex individuals who change and surprise them.

A Meaty Miniseries

Task is a very meaty miniseries to dig into. If you like long episodes, you will enjoy Task. The show premiered on September 7 on HBO. It promises to be a compelling series that explores the lives of its characters in depth, offering twists and turns that keep viewers engaged throughout.