Mark Ruffalo is set to star in Task on HBO, a miniseries that's already drawn notable comparisons in tone to True Detective. True Detective season 4's mixed reviews continued the show's streak of failing to live up to the legendary first season, but the Jodie Foster-led return series evidently performed well enough to earn the show another go. True Detective season 5 is in the works, though the prestige television network is offering crime thriller/mystery fans something else for the time being, with elite talent in front of and behind the camera.

HBO recently revealed the first trailer for Task, and the series looks like a guaranteed hit for the network. Ruffalo's character will lead a group of greener agents as they attempt to thwart a string of home invasions led by a team of antagonists. Rather than focusing primarily on the law enforcement agents, the series will examine the personal and work lives of characters on both sides. Tonally, the show looks like a perfect fit for fans of True Detective's early seasons.

HBO's Task Looks Very Similar To True Detective

Task Is A Crime Drama Focused On Its Characters' Personal Lives

True Detective was one of the shows recognized for bringing movie star talent to the TV screen, offering a detective investigation premise in a longer form that allowed more focus on characters. Matthew McConaughey's Rustin Cohle and Woody Harrelson's Martin Hart are some of the most unforgettable television characters of the century, and that's due not only to the unbelievable performances but also to the outstanding writing. Task looks to offer a similar appeal, with the focus being more on the internal and interpersonal conflicts of its characters.

Sure, True Detective had something of a whodunnit mystery premise, but while its plot twists were exceptional, the primary takeaway of the series was its powerful character moments. The first season also examined the duality between Cohle and Hart, showing the vast differences in their life philosophies and how that intertwined with their careers. Task looks to be offering a similar duality between law enforcement and criminals, with Ruffalo's character seeming to experience struggles in his personal life, like the characters in True Detective often do.

Task will have to keep HBO subscribers and crime thriller lovers satisfied in the meantime.

True Detective season 5 is planned with a story in mind, set in New York's Jamaica Bay area, though we still haven't heard any news on casting. Production is set to begin sometime in the middle of 2025 for a 2027 release, meaning that True Detective will continue to be a series released on an inconsistent schedule. Task will have to keep HBO subscribers and crime thriller lovers satisfied in the meantime, and it looks promising.

Task Looks Like It'll Continue Brad Ingelsby's HBO Crime Drama Success After Mare Of Easttown

Mare Of Easttown Was One Of HBO's Best Miniseries

Brad Ingelsby is a screenwriter and producer who's worked with HBO before, delivering the critically acclaimed drama Mare of Easttown. The seven-episode miniseries was released in 2021 and was met with tremendous acclaim, including multiple Emmy and Golden Globe wins. With Ingelsby creating Task, which appears to have a similar aesthetic and potential appeal, we're even more convinced it's going to be a success. Kate Winslet gave one of the strongest performances of her career in that show, and I'm hoping for the same from Mark Ruffalo.

This won't be Mark Ruffalo's first run on an HBO series either, having played twins in 2020's I Know This Much Is True. The 57-year-old actor knows how to pick his roles, and we can undoubtedly expect outstanding work from him. Ruffalo's career is filled with iconic film roles, but his only major acting awards have been on television. Brad Ingelsby knows how to write scripts that bring the best out of his casts, but particularly the lead characters. I'm expecting Task to be an astounding achievement for everyone involved.