Mark Ruffalo is uncovering huge trouble in the first trailer for Task

Mark Ruffalo is taking on a tough role in the latest trailer for the HBO miniseries Task. The series centers on Ruffalo's character, an FBI agent working in Philadelphia, who is tasked with running a task force probing a spate of brutal home burglaries.

Per HBO and others, the drama examines how such crimes shake up a working-class community and attract an array of complicated characters, including the agent himself, who encounters increasing professional and personal strife as the case unwinds.

The trailer, which premiered before the series' September 7, 2025, release date, hints that Ruffalo's character is not only handling crime but is also heavily pressured and scrutinized from all angles. The following article describes the plot, the issues Ruffalo's character has to confront, and what the audience can look forward to in the show.

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Overview of Task: The story and setting

Task takes place in Philadelphia's blue-collar suburbs. Mark Ruffalo stars as Tom, an FBI agent who is charged with creating and commanding a special team to crack the pattern of brutal burglaries. The burglary sprees are blamed on Robbie, a married man portrayed by Tom Pelphrey.

As the case develops, it appears that the robberies are linked to deeper social problems, such as drug consumption and poverty, that are brewing in the background in the community.

The series is produced by Brad Ingelsby, who had previously worked on the crime drama Mare of Easttown. The narrative kicks off with Ruffalo's team being under inexperienced officers and having few resources, increasing tension and a sense of trouble for Ruffalo's character.

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Mark Ruffalo’s character: Why is he in trouble?

Ruffalo's representative, Tom, is in serious trouble due to several reasons. First, he proceeds with a novice team serving a community that is already on high alert from regular home break-ins. Second, he has to deal with obstacles in the agency and his moral limitations since the case tests his leadership and decision-making abilities.

The trailer depicts Tom as encountering resistance from his superiors and suspicion from residents, yet struggling to find a motive for the burglaries that extends beyond mere theft. Official sources have stated that Tom's central role puts him "at the centre of a brewing territory dispute," i.e., he needs to move quickly to avoid violence between competing criminal factions.

The intricacy of the burglary gang, along with the adversity for both the police and citizens, puts Tom in increasing professional jeopardy and personal pressure.

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The criminals: More than meets the eye

Tom Pelphrey's Robbie, the prime suspect, is an unsuspecting family man. The glimpse of what's to come in the series indicates more complex motives for the robberies.

Robbie declares in the trailer,

"I plan to take their money so we can improve our lives,"

showing that the crimes aren't necessarily about greed but hopes and desperation for a better life. The show thus promises to move beyond simplistic black-and-white representations of criminals and look at the social pressures and personal struggles that force individuals to become criminals.

This dualism brings more aggravation to Ruffalo's character as he is made to balance duty and compassion as he faces the potential reasons behind the crimes.

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Production and cast

Task is a seven-episode limited series that premieres weekly on HBO and HBO Max beginning September 7, 2025. Ruffalo and Pelphrey are joined by Emilia Jones, Jamie McShane, Sam Keeley, Thuso Mbedu, Fabien Frankel, Alison Oliver, Raúl Castillo, Silvia Dionicio, and Martha Plimpton as the supervisor to Ruffalo.

Creator, writer, and executive producer is Brad Ingelsby, with direction by Jeremiah Zagar and Salli Richardson-Whitfield. The series was shot in Delaware County and Philadelphia, injecting realism into its portrayal of the local setting and issues.

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Stay tuned for more updates!