HBO has had a massive year so far in 2026, and the first project to take over the world on streaming was The Pitt. The critically acclaimed medical drama is led by ER veteran Noah Wyle, and HBO was so sure that Season 2 of the show was going to perform well that it was picked up for Season 3 days before the premiere. HBO kept this momentum going in a different genre earlier this year with the new Game of Thrones spin-off show, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Fans are preparing to return to Westeros soon for House of the Dragon Season 3, which will begin streaming around the world on June 21. It’s already been confirmed that the first episode of House of the Dragon Season 3 will feature a giant battle scene that unfolds over an hour.
HBO’s success dates well back into 2025, though, when the streamer introduced one of its best crime thrillers in years, Task. The show stars Mark Ruffalo opposite House of the Dragon veteran Fabien Frankel, and not only did it earn widespread acclaim from critics and audiences, HBO picked up the show for Season 2 in a shocking move — most fans expected that the show would be a limited series. Earlier this year, it was announced that two-time Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali had joined the cast of Task Season 2, but HBO isn’t finished building out the ensemble around Ruffalo, who is confirmed to return. News broke this afternoon that Edgar Ramirez is the latest star to join the cast of Task Season 2. He’s been tapped to play Miguel Contreras, who is described as a “devoted family man and loyal DEA second-in-command who is torn between duty and guilt.”
What Is ‘Task’ About?
The official synopsis for Task, which also stars Tom Pelphrey, reads as follows:
“From Mare of Easttown creator Brad Ingelsby, Task is a taut crime drama set in the working-class suburbs of Philadelphia. When a widowed FBI agent (Mark Ruffalo) is pulled back into the field to lead a task force, he finds himself in a relentless cat-and-mouse pursuit of a desperate family man (Tom Pelphrey) running a string of violent robberies.”
The first season of Task earned a strong 96% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a 77% on the audience-driven Popcornmeter. The show has been hailed as HBO’s answer to Bosch, the hit Prime Video crime thriller starring Titus Welliver. While there are some noticeable differences, fans of Bosch are almost guaranteed to enjoy Task, and vice versa.
Check out the first season of Task on HBO Max.
via Collider