Task creator teases how the show could crossover into Mare of Easttown in Season 2: “They exist in the same world”

The HBO crime drama, Task, created by Brad Ingelsby, finished its first season on October 19, 2025.

The story is set in the working-class suburbs of Philadelphia. It follows the process of FBI Agent Tom Brandis (Mark Ruffalo) and his task force investigating a string of violent robberies, which are connected to a family man, Robbie Prendergrast (Tom Pelphrey), who targets a biker gang's stash houses. The series explores the themes of morality, redemption, and the ups and downs of police work, among others.

Initially, Task was meant to be a limited series, but its success has led to debates about a potential second season. Ingelsby has shown his enthusiasm by expressing his desire to go on with the story, saying how he loves local stories that are set in suburban Philadelphia. But, after the first season, since some key characters have died, deciding on the potential continuance is still an open question.

On a rather surprising note, Ingelsby has also put out a possibility of Mare of Easttown and Task being merged into one universe by suggesting a crossover between the two shows.

A shared universe: Task and Mare of Easttown

Task and Mare of Easttown have the same fictional universe as their starting point. Mare of Easttown follows detective Mare Sheehan's (Kate Winslet) investigation of a murder in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. At the same time, Task focuses on different characters and tells a different story within the same surroundings, with Delco as a background for the new mystery.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Brad Ingelsby said:

“I think there were still more stories to be told about people in Delaware County. They exist in the same world, so it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Mare (Winslet) walked into a Wawa that Tom (Ruffalo) was in. I don’t have a story in mind that’s a crossover, but I love the idea of their worlds intersecting.”

If the crossover of HBO’s Task and Mare of Easttown were to come true, it would mean that both series would have to be extended beyond their initial limited runs.

Task started its run on HBO Max on September 7, 2025, with seven episodes wrapped up as a limited series. Even though it was first branded as a limited series, the prospect of a second season has been a point of conversation. Ingelsby has shown his interest in taking the saga further, saying in an interview with Esquire:

“If people respond to Task and keep responding to Task, I’d love to tell more stories about this place, because I love writing about this place. I do feel like I have more stories to tell.”

Regardless, he concedes that the ultimate choice is with HBO after all. Currently, HBO has not officially renewed the show for a second season. The show’s destiny depends on a mixture of factors, including its viewership, critical reception, and the network’s overall programming.

Although there are no solid plans for the show's continuation, the creator's passion and the potential of the story being further unfolded are already hinting at a new season.

In contrast, Mare of Easttown was released on HBO in April 2021 as a limited series with Kate Winslet playing the role of Detective Mare Sheehan. The series ended with a mystery centering on the main plot point that had been completely resolved, and this made many think that it would only be a one-season show.

But in May 2021, Winslet showed an inclination towards the character to come back. While talking to TV Line, Winslet stated:

“I would absolutely love to play Mare again. I miss her. I really do. It's the strangest thing. I feel like I'm in mourning. It was an absolutely wonderful role... There's something very addictive about Mare, because she's so outrageous and lovable and brilliant and real, you know? I loved playing her.”

Then, in November 2024, Ingelsby brought up the topic of a second season and confessed to the difficulties of creating a captivating narrative that would evoke the same emotion as the first season. Speaking with TV Line, Ingelsby said:

“Mare's journey in that show was so emotional... I always like to tell stories that are really emotional, and it's hard to come up with an emotional story that could compete with losing a son and having to confront that.”

Trending

He nevertheless hinted at the possibility of creating more stories in the same universe despite the obstacles that they will have to encounter. Right now, there is no official confirmation from HBO about a second season for Mare of Easttown. The continuation of the series is weighed by the creators' envisioning, the actors' availability, and the network's scheduling priorities. The creators are not averse to looking back at the story again; however, there are no precise plans disclosed.

The possible merging of Task and Mare of Easttown creates a very exciting opportunity for the audience who are into both series. While there are no official plans for such a crossover at present, the mere fact that the two series are in a shared universe and the creators' being receptive to it is an indication that a crossover might occur sometime in the future.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback