Mahershala Ali Joins HBO's Task for Season 2

HBO's critically acclaimed crime drama Task has added two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali to its cast for the upcoming second season, which is currently in pre-production following the series' renewal last November. The news comes after the show's strong debut in September 2025, where it drew high viewership and praise from critics, earning a 96 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 83 reviews and a 77 percent audience score.

Ali will portray Eddie Barnes, a seasoned and well-respected DEA agent based in Philadelphia. His character leads a team that clashes with the unit headed by the returning FBI agent Tom Brandis, played by Mark Ruffalo. The season's storyline centers on Brandis assuming control of a new task force amid an expanding operation, where distinguishing allies from targets becomes increasingly difficult. This setup shifts the focus from Season 1's pursuit of criminals to tensions within law enforcement, building on the interpersonal conflicts that defined the first installment.

In the initial seven-episode season, Ruffalo's Brandis, a former priest turned FBI agent, led an investigation into a string of robberies targeting trap houses. The probe...